Anti-mutated kras t cell receptors

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an isolated or purified T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for an HLA-A11-restricted epitope of mutated Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) (KRAS7-16), Neuroblastoma RAS Viral (V-Ras) Oncogene Homolog (NRAS), or Harvey Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (HRAS). Related polypeptides and proteins, as well as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions are also provided. Also disclosed are methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/084,654, filed Nov. 26, 2014 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/171,321, filed Jun. 5, 2015, each of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

Incorporated by reference in its entirety herein is a computer-readablenucleotide/amino acid sequence listing submitted concurrently herewithand identified as follows: One 231,164 Byte ASCII (Text) file named“722261_ST25.txt,” dated Nov. 20, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some cancers may have very limited treatment options, particularly whenthe cancer becomes metastatic and unresectable. Despite advances intreatments such as, for example, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiationtherapy, the prognosis for many cancers, such as, for example,pancreatic, colorectal, lung, endometrial, ovarian, and prostatecancers, may be poor. Accordingly, there exists an unmet need foradditional treatments for cancer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified T cellreceptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for a mutated epitope, themutated epitope (a) comprising VVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2) or (b)consisting of VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35).

The invention further provides related polypeptides and proteins, aswell as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, hostcells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions relating tothe TCRs of the invention.

Methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods oftreating or preventing cancer in a mammal are further provided by theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), also referred to asGTPase KRas, V-Ki-Ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene, or KRAS2, isa member of the small GTPase superfamily. There are two transcriptvariants of KRAS: KRAS variant A and KRAS variant B. Hereinafter,references to “KRAS” (mutated or unmutated) refer to both variant A andvariant B, unless specified otherwise. Without being bound to aparticular theory or mechanism, it is believed that, when mutated, KRASmay be involved in signal transduction early in the oncogenesis of manyhuman cancers. A single amino acid substitution may activate themutation. When activated, mutated KRAS binds toguanosine-5′-triphosphate (GTP) and converts GTP to guanosine5′-diphosphate (GDP). The mutated KRAS protein product may beconstitutively activated. Mutated KRAS protein may be expressed in anyof a variety of human cancers such as, for example, pancreatic (e.g.,pancreatic carcinoma), colorectal, lung (e.g., lung adenocarcinoma),endometrial, ovarian (e.g., epithelial ovarian cancer), and prostatecancers.

An embodiment of the invention provides an isolated or purified TCRhaving antigenic specificity for mutated human KRAS (hereinafter,“mutated KRAS”). Hereinafter, references to a “TCR” also refer tofunctional portions and functional variants of the TCR, unless specifiedotherwise. The inventive TCR may have antigenic specificity for anymutated KRAS protein, polypeptide or peptide. In an embodiment of theinvention, the TCR has antigenic specificity for a mutated KRAS proteincomprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 32,122, or 123. The mutated KRAS variant A protein amino acid sequences ofeach of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 32 generally corresponds to positions 1-189 ofthe unmutated, wild-type (WT) KRAS protein variant A amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 29 with the exception that in SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 32, theglycine at position 12 is substituted with aspartic acid or valine,respectively. The mutated KRAS variant B protein amino acid sequences ofeach of SEQ ID NOs: 122 and 123 generally corresponds to positions 1-188of the unmutated, WT KRAS protein variant B amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 121 with the exception that in SEQ ID NOs: 122 and 123, theglycine at position 12 is substituted with aspartic acid or valine,respectively. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the TCR hasantigenic specificity for a mutated KRAS₇₋₁₆ peptide comprising orconsisting of the amino acid sequence of VVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2), orVVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33). The mutated KRAS peptide amino acidsequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 33 generally correspond to positions 1-10of the unmutated, WT KRAS₇₋₁₆ peptide amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 with the exception that in SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 33, the glycine atposition 6 is substituted with aspartic acid or valine, respectively. Inan embodiment of the invention, the TCR has antigenic specificity for amutated KRAS₈₋₁₆ peptide comprising or consisting of the amino acidsequence of VVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 34) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35). Themutated KRAS peptide amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 34 and 35generally correspond to positions 1-9 of the unmutated, WT KRAS₈₋₁₆peptide amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 with the exception that inSEQ ID NOs: 34 and 35, the glycine at position 5 is substituted withaspartic acid or valine, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, theTCR has antigenic specificity for a mutated KRAS epitope, the mutatedKRAS epitope (a) comprising VVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2) or (b) consistingof VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35). In anespecially preferred embodiment, the TCR has antigenic specificity for amutated KRAS epitope comprising VVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2). In anotherpreferred embodiment, the TCR has antigenic specificity for a mutatedKRAS epitope consisting of VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQID NO: 35). The mutated KRAS amino acid sequences VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO:33) and VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35) are also referred to herein as “KRASG12V.” The mutated KRAS amino acid sequences VVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2)and VVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 34) are also referred to herein as “KRASG12D.”

The mutated KRAS epitope amino acid sequences described herein are alsofound in two other mutated oncogenes in human cancer, Neuroblastoma RASViral (V-Ras) Oncogene Homolog (NRAS) and Harvey Rat Sarcoma ViralOncogene Homolog (HRAS). The amino acid sequences of mutated human NRASand mutated human HRAS contain the mutated human KRAS epitope sequencesdescribed herein. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention, theinventive TCRs also have antigenic specificity for mutated human NRASand HRAS. Mutated human KRAS, mutated human NRAS, and mutated human HRASare collectively referred to herein as “mutated target(s).”

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive TCRs are able torecognize mutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS, in a majorhistocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-dependent manner. “MHC classI-dependent manner,” as used herein, means that the TCR elicits animmune response upon binding to mutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS,within the context of an MHC class I molecule. The MHC class I moleculecan be any MHC class I molecule known in the art, e.g., HLA-A molecules.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the TCR has antigenicspecificity for the mutated epitope, presented in the context of anHLA-A11 molecule.

The TCRs of the invention provide many advantages, including whenexpressed by cells used for adoptive cell transfer. Mutated KRAS,mutated NRAS, and mutated HRAS are expressed by cancer cells and are notexpressed by normal, noncancerous cells. Without being bound to aparticular theory or mechanism, it is believed that the inventive TCRsadvantageously target the destruction of cancer cells while minimizingor eliminating the destruction of normal, non-cancerous cells, therebyreducing, for example, by minimizing or eliminating, toxicity. Moreover,the inventive TCRs may, advantageously, successfully treat or preventone or more of mutated KRAS-positive cancers, mutated NRAS-positivecancers, and mutated HRAS-positive cancers that do not respond to othertypes of treatment such as, for example, chemotherapy, surgery, orradiation. Additionally, the inventive TCRs may provide highly avidrecognition of one or more of mutated KRAS, mutated NRAS, and mutatedHRAS, which may provide the ability to recognize unmanipulated tumorcells (e.g., tumor cells that have not been treated with interferon(IFN)-γ, transfected with a vector encoding one or both of mutated KRASand HLA-A11, pulsed with the mutated KRAS₇₋₁₆ or KRAS₈₋₁₆ peptide, or acombination thereof).

The phrase “antigenic specificity,” as used herein, means that the TCRcan specifically bind to and immunologically recognize mutated target,e.g., mutated KRAS, with high avidity. For example, a TCR may beconsidered to have “antigenic specificity” for mutated target if T cellsexpressing the TCR secrete at least about 200 pg/mL or more (e.g., 200pg/mL or more, 300 pg/mL or more, 400 pg/mL or more, 500 pg/mL or more,600 pg/mL or more, 700 pg/mL or more, 1000 pg/mL or more, 5,000 pg/mL ormore, 7,000 pg/mL or more, 10,000 pg/mL or more, 20,000 pg/mL or more,or a range defined by any two of the foregoing values) of IFN-γ uponco-culture with (a) antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cells pulsed with alow concentration of mutated target peptide (e.g., about 0.05 ng/mL toabout 5 ng/mL, 0.05 ng/mL, 0.1 ng/mL, 0.5 ng/mL, 1 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL, or arange defined by any two of the foregoing values) or (b)antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cells into which a nucleotide sequenceencoding the mutated target has been introduced such that the targetcell expresses the mutated target. Cells expressing the inventive TCRsmay also secrete IFN-γ upon co-culture with antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺target cells pulsed with higher concentrations of mutated targetpeptide.

Alternatively or additionally, a TCR may be considered to have“antigenic specificity” for a mutated target if T cells expressing theTCR secrete at least twice as much IFN-γ upon co-culture with (a)antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cells pulsed with a low concentrationof mutated target peptide or (b) antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cellsinto which a nucleotide sequence encoding the mutated target has beenintroduced such that the target cell expresses the mutated target ascompared to the amount of IFN-γ expressed by a negative control. Thenegative control may be, for example, (i) T cells expressing the TCR,co-cultured with (a) antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cells pulsed withthe same concentration of an irrelevant peptide (e.g., some otherpeptide with a different sequence from the mutated target peptide) or(b) antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cells into which a nucleotidesequence encoding an irrelevant peptide has been introduced such thatthe target cell expresses the irrelevant peptide, or (ii) untransduced Tcells (e.g., derived from PBMC, which do not express the TCR)co-cultured with (a) antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cells pulsed withthe same concentration of mutated target peptide or (b) antigen-negativeHLA-A11⁺ target cells into which a nucleotide sequence encoding themutated target has been introduced such that the target cell expressesthe mutated target. IFN-γ secretion may be measured by methods known inthe art such as, for example, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Alternatively or additionally, a TCR may be considered to have“antigenic specificity” for a mutated target if at least twice as manyof the numbers of T cells expressing the TCR secrete IFN-γ uponco-culture with (a) antigen-negative HLA-A11⁺ target cells pulsed with alow concentration of mutated target peptide or (b) antigen-negativeHLA-A11+ target cells into which a nucleotide sequence encoding themutated target has been introduced such that the target cell expressesthe mutated target as compared to the numbers of negative control Tcells that secrete IFN-γ. The concentration of peptide and the negativecontrol may be as described herein with respect to other aspects of theinvention. The numbers of cells secreting IFN-γ may be measured bymethods known in the art such as, for example, ELISPOT.

The invention provides a TCR comprising two polypeptides (i.e.,polypeptide chains), such as an alpha (a) chain of a TCR, a beta (β)chain of a TCR, a gamma (γ) chain of a TCR, a delta (δ) chain of a TCR,or a combination thereof. The polypeptides of the inventive TCR cancomprise any amino acid sequence, provided that the TCR has antigenicspecificity for the mutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS.

In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises two polypeptidechains, each of which comprises a variable region comprising acomplementarity determining region (CDR)1, a CDR2, and a CDR3 of a TCR.In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises: (a) a firstpolypeptide chain comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 3 (CDR1 of α chain of anti-KRAS G12D TCR), a CDR2comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 (CDR2 of α chain ofanti-KRAS G12D TCR), and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 5 (CDR3 of α chain of anti-KRAS G12D TCR), and a secondpolypeptide chain comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 6 (CDR1 of β chain of anti-KRAS G12D TCR), a CDR2comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 (CDR2 of β chain ofanti-KRAS G12D TCR), and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 8 (CDR3 of β chain of anti-KRAS G12D TCR); (b) a firstpolypeptide chain comprising an anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain CDR1comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125, an anti-KRAS G12VTCR α chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 126,an anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 127, and a second polypeptide chain comprising an anti-KRASG12V TCR β chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:128, an anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain CDR2 comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 129, and an anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain CDR3comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 130; (c) a firstpolypeptide chain comprising an anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain CDR1comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 137, an anti-KRAS G12VTCR α chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 138,an anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 139, and a second polypeptide chain comprising an anti-KRASG12V TCR β chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:140, an anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain CDR2 comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 141, and an anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain CDR3comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 142; or (d) firstpolypeptide chain comprising an anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain CDR1comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 149, an anti-KRAS G12DTCR α chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 150,an anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 151, and a second polypeptide chain comprising an anti-KRASG12D TCR β chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:152, an anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain CDR2 comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 153, and an anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain CDR3comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 154. In this regard,the inventive TCR can comprise any one or more of the amino acidsequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8;125-130; 137-142; and 149-154. Preferably, the TCR comprises the aminoacid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-5; SEQ ID NOs: 6-8; SEQ ID NOs: 125-127;SEQ ID NOs: 128-130; SEQ ID NOs: 137-139; SEQ ID NOs: 140-142; SEQ IDNOs: 149-151; or SEQ ID NOs: 152-154. In an especially preferredembodiment, the TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of (a) all of SEQID NOs: 3-8; (b) all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-130; (c) all of SEQ ID NOs:137-142; (d) all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154.

In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR comprises an amino acidsequence of a variable region of a TCR comprising the CDRs set forthabove. In this regard, the TCR can comprise the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 9 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO:10 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); both SEQ ID NOs: 9and 10; SEQ ID NO: 131 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain);SEQ ID NO: 132 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); both SEQID NOs: 131 and 132; SEQ ID NO: 143 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12VTCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 144 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR βchain); both SEQ ID NOs: 143 and 144; SEQ ID NO: 155 (variable region ofanti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 156 (variable region ofanti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); or both SEQ ID NOs: 155 and 156.Preferably, the inventive TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of bothSEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10; both SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 132; both SEQ ID NOs: 143and 144; or both SEQ ID NOs: 155 and 156.

In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR further comprises an aminoacid sequence of a constant region of a TCR. In this regard, the TCR cancomprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 (constant region ofanti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain), SEQ ID NO: 14 (constant region of anti-KRASG12D TCR β chain), both SEQ ID NOs: 13 and 14; SEQ ID NO: 135 (constantregion of anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain), SEQ ID NO: 136 (constant regionof anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain), both SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 136; SEQ ID NO:147 (constant region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain), SEQ ID NO: 148(constant region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain), both SEQ ID NOs: 147and 148; SEQ ID NO: 159 (constant region of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain),SEQ ID NO: 160 (constant region of anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain), or bothSEQ ID NOs: 159 and 160. Preferably, the inventive TCR comprises theamino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 13 and 14; both SEQ ID NOs: 135and 136; both SEQ ID NOs: 147 and 148; both SEQ ID NOs: 159 and 160.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive TCR may comprise acombination of a variable region and a constant region. In this regard,the TCR can comprise: (a) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequencesof both SEQ ID NO: 9 (variable region of α chain) and SEQ ID NO: 13(constant region of α chain); a β chain comprising the amino acidsequences of both SEQ ID NO: 10 (variable region of β chain) and SEQ IDNO: 14 (constant region of β chain); or the amino acid sequences of allof SEQ ID NOs: 9, 10, 13, and 14; (b) an α chain comprising the aminoacid sequences of both SEQ ID NO: 131 (variable region of α chain) andSEQ ID NO: 135 (constant region of α chain); a β chain comprising theamino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NO: 132 (variable region of β chain)and SEQ ID NO: 136 (constant region of β chain); or the amino acidsequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 135, and 136; (c) an α chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NO: 143 (variableregion of α chain) and SEQ ID NO: 147 (constant region of α chain); a βchain comprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NO: 144(variable region of β chain) and SEQ ID NO: 148 (constant region of βchain); or the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 143, 144, 147,and 148; or (d) an α chain comprising the amino acid sequences of bothSEQ ID NO: 155 (variable region of α chain) and SEQ ID NO: 159 (constantregion of α chain); a β chain comprising the amino acid sequences ofboth SEQ ID NO: 156 (variable region of β chain) and SEQ ID NO: 160(constant region of β chain); or the amino acid sequences of all of SEQID NOs: 155, 156, 159, and 160. Preferably, the inventive TCR comprisesthe amino acid sequences of (a) all of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 10, 13, and 14;(b) all of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 135, and 136; (c) all of SEQ ID NOs:143, 144, 147, and 148; or (d) all of SEQ ID NOs: 155, 156, 159, and160.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive TCR may comprise acombination of any of the CDR regions described herein and a constantregion. In this regard, the TCR can comprise an α chain comprising: (a)the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-5 and 13; a β chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 6-8 and 14; orthe amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8 and 13-14; (b) theamino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-127 and 135; a β chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 128-130 and136; or the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-130 and135-136; (c) the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-139 and147; a β chain comprising the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs:140-142 and 148; or the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs:137-142 and 147-148; or (d) the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ IDNOs: 149-151 and 159; a β chain comprising the amino acid sequences ofall of SEQ ID NOs: 152-154 and 160; or the amino acid sequences of allof SEQ ID NOs: 149-154 and 159-160.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive TCR can comprise an αchain of a TCR and a β chain of a TCR. Each of the α chain and β chainof the inventive TCR can independently comprise any amino acid sequence.In this regard, the α chain of the inventive TCR can comprise the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 (anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain), SEQ ID NO:133 (anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain), SEQ ID NO: 145 (anti-KRAS G12V TCR αchain), or SEQ ID NO: 157 (anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain). An α chain ofthis type can be paired with any β chain of a TCR. In this regard, the βchain of the inventive TCR can comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 12 (anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain), SEQ ID NO: 134 (anti-KRAS G12VTCR β chain), SEQ ID NO: 146 (anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain), or SEQ ID NO:158 (anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain). The inventive TCR, therefore, cancomprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ IDNO: 133, SEQ ID NO: 134, SEQ ID NO: 145, SEQ ID NO: 146, SEQ ID NO: 157,SEQ ID NO: 158, both SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, both SEQ ID NOs: 133 and134, both SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146, or both SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158.Preferably, the inventive TCR comprises the amino acid sequences of bothSEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, both SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134, both SEQ ID NOs:145 and 146, or both SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive TCRs recognize mutatedtarget, e.g., mutated KRAS, either (i) in the presence of CD4 and theabsence of CD8 or (ii) in the presence of CD8 and the absence of CD4. Ina preferred embodiment, a TCR comprising the amino acid sequences of (i)SEQ ID NOs: 125-130; (ii) SEQ ID NOs: 131-132; or (iii) SEQ ID NOs: 133and 134 recognizes mutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS, either (i) in thepresence of CD4 and the absence of CD8 or (ii) in the presence of CD8and the absence of CD4. Accordingly, these inventive TCRs may,advantageously recognize mutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS, whenexpressed by either CD4+ or CD8+ cells.

In an embodiment of the invention, the TCR is a murine TCR. As usedherein, the term “murine,” when referring to a TCR or any component of aTCR described herein (e.g., complementarity determining region (CDR),variable region, constant region, α chain, and/or β chain), means a TCR(or component thereof) which is derived from a mouse, i.e., a TCR (orcomponent thereof) that originated from or was, at one time, expressedby a mouse T cell. In an embodiment of the invention, a TCR comprising(i) all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8; (ii) SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10; (iii) SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12; (iv) all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8 and 13-14; (v) all of SEQ ID NOs:9, 10, 13, and 14; (vi) all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-130; (vii) SEQ ID NOs:131 and 132; (viii) SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134; (ix) all of SEQ ID NOs:125-130 and 135-136; (x) all of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 135, and 136; (xi)all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-142; (xii) SEQ ID NOs: 143 and 144; (xiii) SEQ IDNOs: 145 and 146; (xiv) all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-142 and 147-148; (xv) allof SEQ ID NOs: 143, 144, 147, and 148; (xvi) all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154;(xvii) SEQ ID NOs: 155 and 156; (xviii) SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158; (xix)all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154 and 159-160; or (xx) all of SEQ ID NOs: 155,156, 159, and 160 is a murine TCR.

Included in the scope of the invention are functional variants of theinventive TCRs described herein. The term “functional variant,” as usedherein, refers to a TCR, polypeptide, or protein having substantial orsignificant sequence identity or similarity to a parent TCR,polypeptide, or protein, which functional variant retains the biologicalactivity of the TCR, polypeptide, or protein of which it is a variant.Functional variants encompass, for example, those variants of the TCR,polypeptide, or protein described herein (the parent TCR, polypeptide,or protein) that retain the ability to specifically bind to mutatedtarget, e.g., mutated KRAS for which the parent TCR has antigenicspecificity or to which the parent polypeptide or protein specificallybinds, to a similar extent, the same extent, or to a higher extent, asthe parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein. In reference to the parent TCR,polypeptide, or protein, the functional variant can, for instance, be atleast about 30%, 50%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or moreidentical in amino acid sequence to the parent TCR, polypeptide, orprotein.

The functional variant can, for example, comprise the amino acidsequence of the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein with at least oneconservative amino acid substitution. Conservative amino acidsubstitutions are known in the art, and include amino acid substitutionsin which one amino acid having certain physical and/or chemicalproperties is exchanged for another amino acid that has the samechemical or physical properties. For instance, the conservative aminoacid substitution can be an acidic amino acid substituted for anotheracidic amino acid (e.g., Asp or Glu), an amino acid with a nonpolar sidechain substituted for another amino acid with a nonpolar side chain(e.g., Ala, Gly, Val, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Trp, Val, etc.), a basicamino acid substituted for another basic amino acid (Lys, Arg, etc.), anamino acid with a polar side chain substituted for another amino acidwith a polar side chain (Asn, Cys, Gln, Ser, Thr, Tyr, etc.), etc.

Alternatively or additionally, the functional variants can comprise theamino acid sequence of the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein with atleast one non-conservative amino acid substitution. In this case, it ispreferable for the non-conservative amino acid substitution to notinterfere with or inhibit the biological activity of the functionalvariant. Preferably, the non-conservative amino acid substitutionenhances the biological activity of the functional variant, such thatthe biological activity of the functional variant is increased ascompared to the parent TCR, polypeptide, or protein. In an embodiment ofthe invention, the functional variant is a substituted TCR, polypeptide,or protein comprising (i) the substituted CDR3α, variable region of theα chain, or full-length α chain amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ IDNOs: 46-56 and 207, 70-80 and 208, and 94-104 and 209, respectively;(ii) the substituted CDR3β, variable region of the β chain, orfull-length β chain amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-69,81-93, and 105-117, respectively; or (iii) a pair of any one of theamino acid sequences of (i) in combination with any one of the aminoacid sequences of (ii).

For example, in an embodiment of the invention, a substituted TCR,polypeptide, or protein may comprise one or both of (a) a substitutedCDR3α amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 46-56 and 207 (TableI) and (b) a substituted CDR3β amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ IDNOs: 57-69 (Table II). An embodiment of the invention provides a TCR,polypeptide, or protein having any one or more of the native,unsubstituted CDR1α, CDR2α, CDR1β, CDR2β, and CDR3β amino acid sequencesdescribed herein with respect to other aspects of the invention incombination with any one of the substituted CDR3α amino acid sequencesof SEQ ID NOs: 46-56 and 207. In this regard, an embodiment of theinvention provides a substituted TCR comprising the amino acid sequencesof all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207, and 152-154. Another embodiment ofthe invention provides a TCR, polypeptide, or protein having any one ormore of the native, unsubstituted CDR1α, CDR2α, CDR3α, CDR1β, and CDR2βamino acid sequences described herein with respect to other aspects ofthe invention in combination with any one of the substituted CDR3β aminoacid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 57-69.

TABLE I Substituted CXLRGNAGAKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 1glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 46)Substituted CAXRGNAGAKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 2glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 47)Substituted CALXGNAGAKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 3glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 48)Substituted CALRXNAGAKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 4glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 49)Substituted CALRGXAGAKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine,version 5glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 50)Substituted CALRGNXGAKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 6glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 51)Substituted CALRGNAXAKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 7glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 52)Substituted CALRGNAGXKLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 8glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 53)Substituted CALRGNAGAXLTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 9glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 54)Substituted CALRGNAGAKXTF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 10glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 55)Substituted CALRGNAGAKLXF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 11glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 56)Substituted CAADSSNTXYQNFYF CDR3 α-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 12glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 207).In a preferred embodiment, X ia alanine in SEQ ID NO: 207.

TABLE II Substituted CXSSSRDWSAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 1glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 57)Substituted CAXSSRDWSAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 2glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 58)Substituted CASXSRDWSAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 3glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 59)Substituted CASSXRDWSAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 4glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 60)Substituted CASSSXDWSAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 5glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 61)Substituted CASSSRXWSAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine,version 6glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 62)Substituted CASSSRDXSAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 7glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 63)Substituted CASSSRDWXAETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 8glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 64)Substituted CASSSRDWSXETLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 9glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 65)Substituted CASSSRDWSAXTLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamine,version 10glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 66)Substituted CASSSRDWSAEXLYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 11glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 67)Substituted CASSSRDWSAETXYF CDR3 β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 12glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline,serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 68)Substituted CASSSRDWSAETLXF CDR β-Wherein X is alanine, arginine, asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,version 13glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, or valine (SEQ ID NO: 69)

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the substituted CDR3α aminoacid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 46-56 does not comprise the native,unsubstituted CDR3α amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. In anembodiment of the invention, the substituted CDR3α amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 207 does not comprise the native, unsubstituted CDR3αamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 151. Similarly, in an embodiment ofthe invention, each of the substituted CDR3β amino acid sequences of SEQID NOs: 57-69 does not comprise the native, unsubstituted CDR3β aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.

An embodiment of the invention provides a substituted TCR, polypeptide,or protein comprising one or both of (i) a substituted variable regionof an α chain comprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ IDNOs: 70-80 and 208 (Table III) and (ii) a substituted variable region ofa β chain comprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:81-93 (Table IV). An embodiment of the invention provides a TCR,polypeptide, or protein having any of the native, unsubstituted variableregions of the β chain described herein with respect to other aspects ofthe invention in combination with any one of the substituted variableregion α chain amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 70-80 and 208.Another embodiment of the invention provides a TCR, polypeptide, orprotein having any of the native, unsubstituted variable regions of theα chain described herein with respect to other aspects of the inventionin combination with any one of the substituted variable region β chainamino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 81-93.

TABLE III Substituted SEQ ID NO: 70, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region α-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 1 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 71, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic region α- acid,glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, version 2 lysine, methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 72, wherein X is alanine, asparagine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region α-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 3 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 73, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic region α- acid,glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 4 lysine, methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 74, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region α-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 5 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 75, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region α-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 6 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 76, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, region α-glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 7 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 77, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region α-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 8 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 78, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic region α- acid,glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, version 9 leucine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan,tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 79, wherein X is alanine,arginine, variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic regionα- acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, version 10 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan,tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 80, wherein X is alanine,arginine, variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic regionα- acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, version 11 leucine,lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tryptophan,tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 208, Wherein X is alanine,arginine, variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic regionα- acid, glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 12 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan,tyrosine, or valine. In a preferred embodiment, X is alanine in SEQ IDNO: 208.

TABLE IV Substituted SEQ ID NO: 81, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region β-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 1 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 82, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, region β-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 2 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 83, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, region β-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 3 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 84, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, region β-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 4 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 85, wherein X is alanine, asparagine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region β-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 5 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 86, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region β-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 6 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 87, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, region β-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 7 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 88, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic region β- acid,glutamne, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, version 8 leucine, lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 89, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,variable asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, region β-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 9 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 90, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamine, region β-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 10 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 91, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, region β-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 11 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 92, wherein X is alanine, arginine,variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, region β-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, version 12methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan,tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 93, wherein X is alanine,arginine, variable asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid,region β- glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 13lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine,tryptophan, or valine

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the substituted variableregion α chain amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 70-80 does notcomprise the native, unsubstituted variable region α chain amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. In an embodiment of the invention, thesubstituted variable region α chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:208 does not comprise the native, unsubstituted variable region α chainamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 155. Similarly, in an embodiment ofthe invention, each of the substituted variable region β chain aminoacid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 81-93 does not comprise the native,unsubstituted variable region β chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10.

An embodiment of the invention provides a substituted TCR, polypeptide,or protein comprising one or both of (i) a substituted full length αchain comprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:94-104 and 209 (Table V) and (ii) a substituted full length β chaincomprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 105-117(Table VI). An embodiment of the invention provides a TCR, polypeptide,or protein having any of the native, unsubstituted full-length β chainsequences described herein with respect to other aspects of theinvention in combination with any one of the substituted full length αchain amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 94-104 and 209. Anotherembodiment of the invention provides a TCR, polypeptide, or proteinhaving any of the native, unsubstituted full-length α chains describedherein with respect to other aspects of the invention in combinationwith any one of the substituted full-length β chain sequences of SEQ IDNOs: 105-117.

TABLE V Substituted SEQ ID NO: 94, wherein X is arginine, glutamic fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, acid, α chain- glutamine,glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 1 lysine, methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 95, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic α chain- acid,glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, version 2 lysine, methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 96, wherein X is alanine, asparagine, fulllength asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, α chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 3 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 97, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, α chain-glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 4 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 98, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, α chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 5 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 99, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,full length asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, α chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 6 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 100, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, α chain-glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 7 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 101, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,full length asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, α chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 8 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 102, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, α chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 9methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan,tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 103, wherein X is alanine,arginine, full length asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamicacid, α chain- glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine,version 10 methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine,tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 104, wherein X isalanine, arginine, full length asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine,glutamic acid, α chain- glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine,leucine, version 11 lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine,tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 209, Wherein X isalanine, arginine, full length asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine,glutamic acid, α chain- glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine,lysine, version 12 methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine,threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, or valine. In a preferred embodiment, Xis alanine in SEQ ID NO: 209.

TABLE VI Substituted SEQ ID NO: 105, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,full length asparatic acid, cysteine,glutamic acid, glutamine, β chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 1 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 106, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, β chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 2 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 107, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, β chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 3 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 108, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, β chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 4 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 109, wherein X is alanine, asparagine,full length asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, β chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 5 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 110, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, β chain- glycine,histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 6 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 111, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, β chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 7 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 112, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, β chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 8 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 113, wherein X is arginine, asparagine,full length asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, β chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 9 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 114, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamine, β chain-glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, version 10 methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 115, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, β chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, version 11 lysine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, orvaline Substituted SEQ ID NO: 116, wherein X is alanine, arginine, fulllength asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, β chain-glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, version 12methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan,tyrosine, or valine Substituted SEQ ID NO: 117, wherein X is alanine,arginine, full length asparagine, asparatic acid, cysteine, glutamicacid, β chain- glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine,version 13 lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine,threonine, tryptophan, or valine

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the substituted full length αchain amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 94-104 does not comprise thenative, unsubstituted full length α chain amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 11. In an embodiment of the invention, the substituted full length αchain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 209 does not comprise thenative, unsubstituted full length α chain amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 157. Similarly, in an embodiment of the invention, each of thesubstituted full length β chain amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:105-117 does not comprise the native, unsubstituted full length β chainamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12.

The TCR, polypeptide, or protein can consist essentially of thespecified amino acid sequence or sequences described herein, such thatother components of the TCR, polypeptide, or protein, e.g., other aminoacids, do not materially change the biological activity of the TCR,polypeptide, or protein. In this regard, the inventive TCR, polypeptide,or protein can, for example, consist essentially of the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 133, SEQ ID NO:134, SEQ ID NO: 145, SEQ ID NO: 146, SEQ ID NO: 157, SEQ ID NO: 158, SEQID NO: 209, both SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, both SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134,both SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146, both SEQ ID NO: 157 and 158, or both SEQID NOs: 158 and 209. Also, for instance, the inventive TCRs,polypeptides, or proteins can consist essentially of the amino acidsequence(s) of SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO: 143, SEQ ID NO: 144, SEQ ID NO: 155, SEQ ID NO: 156, SEQID NO: 208, both SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10, both SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 132,both SEQ ID NO: 143 and 144, both SEQ ID NOs: 155 and 156, or both SEQID NOs: 156 and 208. Furthermore, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, orproteins can consist essentially of the amino acid sequence of (a) SEQID NO: 3 (CDR1 of a chain), SEQ ID NO: 4 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 5(CDR3 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 6 (CDR1 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 7 (CDR2 ofβ chain), SEQ ID NO: 8 (CDR3 of β chain), or any combination thereof,e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 3-5; 6-8; or 3-8; (b) SEQ ID NO: 125 (CDR1 of αchain), SEQ ID NO: 126 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 127 (CDR3 of αchain), SEQ ID NO: 128 (CDR1 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 129 (CDR2 of βchain), SEQ ID NO: 130 (CDR3 of β chain), or any combination thereof,e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 125-127; 128-130; or 125-130; (c) SEQ ID NO: 137 (CDR1of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 138 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 139 (CDR3 of αchain), SEQ ID NO: 140 (CDR1 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 141 (CDR2 of βchain), SEQ ID NO: 142 (CDR3 of β chain), or any combination thereof,e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 137-139; 140-142; or 137-142; (d) SEQ ID NO: 149 (CDR1of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 150 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 151 (CDR3 of αchain), SEQ ID NO: 152 (CDR1 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 153 (CDR2 of βchain), SEQ ID NO: 154 (CDR3 of β chain), or any combination thereof,e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 149-151; 152-154; or 149-154; or (e) SEQ ID NO: 149(CDR1 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 150 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 207(substituted CDR3 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 152 (CDR1 of β chain), SEQ IDNO: 153 (CDR2 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 154 (CDR3 of β chain), or anycombination thereof, e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 149-150 and 207; 152-154; or149-150, 207, and 152-154.

Also provided by the invention is a polypeptide comprising a functionalportion of any of the TCRs described herein. The term “polypeptide” asused herein includes oligopeptides and refers to a single chain of aminoacids connected by one or more peptide bonds.

With respect to the inventive polypeptides, the functional portion canbe any portion comprising contiguous amino acids of the TCR of which itis a part, provided that the functional portion specifically binds tomutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS. The term “functional portion” whenused in reference to a TCR refers to any part or fragment of the TCR ofthe invention, which part or fragment retains the biological activity ofthe TCR of which it is a part (the parent TCR). Functional portionsencompass, for example, those parts of a TCR that retain the ability tospecifically bind to mutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS (e.g., in anHLA-A11-dependent manner), or detect, treat, or prevent cancer, to asimilar extent, the same extent, or to a higher extent, as the parentTCR. In reference to the parent TCR, the functional portion cancomprise, for instance, about 10%, 25%, 30%, 50%, 68%, 80%, 90%, 95%, ormore, of the parent TCR.

The functional portion can comprise additional amino acids at the aminoor carboxy terminus of the portion, or at both termini, which additionalamino acids are not found in the amino acid sequence of the parent TCR.Desirably, the additional amino acids do not interfere with thebiological function of the functional portion, e.g., specificallybinding to mutated target, e.g., mutated KRAS; and/or having the abilityto detect cancer, treat or prevent cancer, etc. More desirably, theadditional amino acids enhance the biological activity, as compared tothe biological activity of the parent TCR or functional variant thereof.

The polypeptide can comprise a functional portion of either or both ofthe α and β chains of the TCRs of the invention, such as a functionalportion comprising one of more of CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 of the variableregion(s) of the α chain and/or β chain of a TCR of the invention. In anembodiment of the invention, the polypeptide can comprise a functionalportion comprising the amino acid sequence of (a) SEQ ID NO: 3 (CDR1 ofα chain), 4 (CDR2 of α chain), 5 (CDR3 of α chain), 6 (CDR1 of β chain),7 (CDR2 of β chain), 8 (CDR3 of β chain), or a combination thereof; (b)SEQ ID NO: 125 (CDR1 of α chain), 126 (CDR2 of α chain), 127 (CDR3 of αchain), 128 (CDR1 of β chain), 129 (CDR2 of β chain), 130 (CDR3 of βchain), or a combination thereof; (c) SEQ ID NO: 137 (CDR1 of α chain),138 (CDR2 of α chain), 139 (CDR3 of α chain), 140 (CDR1 of β chain), 141(CDR2 of β chain), 142 (CDR3 of β chain), or a combination thereof; (d)SEQ ID NO: 149 (CDR1 of a chain), 150 (CDR2 of α chain), 151 (CDR3 of αchain), 152 (CDR1 of β chain), 153 (CDR2 of β chain), 154 (CDR3 of βchain), or a combination thereof; or (e) SEQ ID NO: 149 (CDR1 of αchain), 150 (CDR2 of α chain), 207 (substituted CDR3 of α chain), 152(CDR1 of β chain), 153 (CDR2 of β chain), 154 (CDR3 of β chain), or acombination thereof. Preferably, the inventive polypeptide comprises afunctional portion comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:3-5; 6-8; 125-127; 128-130; 137-139; 140-142; 149-151; 152-154; all ofSEQ ID NOs: 3-8; all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-130; all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-142;all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154; or all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207, and152-154. More preferably, the polypeptide comprises a functional portioncomprising the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8; all ofSEQ ID NOs: 125-130; all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-142; all of SEQ ID NOs:149-154; or all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207, and 152-154.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive polypeptide cancomprise, for instance, the variable region of the inventive TCR orfunctional variant thereof comprising a combination of the CDR regionsset forth above. In this regard, the polypeptide can comprise the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 (variable region of α chain), SEQ ID NO:10 (variable region of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 131 (variable region of αchain), SEQ ID NO: 132 (variable region of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 143(variable region of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 144 (variable region of βchain), SEQ ID NO: 155 (variable region of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 156(variable region of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 208 (substituted variableregion of α chain), both SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10, both SEQ ID NOs: 131 and132, both SEQ ID NOs: 143 and 144, both SEQ ID NO: 155 and 156, or bothSEQ ID NOs: 208 and 156. Preferably, the polypeptide comprises the aminoacid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 9 and 10, both SEQ ID NOs: 131 and132, both SEQ ID NOs: 143 and 144, both SEQ ID NO: 155 and 156, or bothSEQ ID NOs: 208 and 156.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive polypeptide can furthercomprise the constant region of the inventive TCR or functional variantthereof set forth above. In this regard, the polypeptide can comprisethe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 (constant region of α chain),SEQ ID NO: 14 (constant region of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 135 (constantregion of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 136 (constant region of β chain), SEQ IDNO: 147 (constant region of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 148 (constant region ofβ chain), SEQ ID NO: 159 (constant region of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 160(constant region of β chain), both SEQ ID NOs: 13 and 14, both SEQ IDNOs: 135 and 136, both SEQ ID NOs: 147 and 148, or both SEQ ID NOs: 159and 160. Preferably, the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequencesof both SEQ ID NOs: 13 and 14, both SEQ ID NOs: 135 and 136, both SEQ IDNOs: 147 and 148, or both SEQ ID NOs: 159 and 160.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive polypeptide maycomprise a combination of a variable region and a constant region of theinventive TCR or functional variant thereof. In this regard, thepolypeptide can comprise: (a) the amino acid sequences of both SEQ IDNO: 9 (variable region of α chain) and SEQ ID NO: 13 (constant region ofα chain), both SEQ ID NO: 10 (variable region of β chain) and SEQ ID NO:14 (constant region of β chain), or all of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 10, 13, and14; (b) the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NO: 131 (variable regionof α chain) and SEQ ID NO: 135 (constant region of α chain), both SEQ IDNO: 132 (variable region of β chain) and SEQ ID NO: 136 (constant regionof β chain), or all of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 135, and 136; (c) the aminoacid sequences of both SEQ ID NO: 143 (variable region of α chain) andSEQ ID NO: 147 (constant region of α chain), both SEQ ID NO: 144(variable region of β chain) and SEQ ID NO: 148 (constant region of βchain), or all of SEQ ID NOs: 143, 144, 147, and 148; (d) the amino acidsequences of both SEQ ID NO: 155 (variable region of α chain) and SEQ IDNO: 159 (constant region of α chain), both SEQ ID NO: 156 (variableregion of β chain) and SEQ ID NO: 160 (constant region of β chain), orall of SEQ ID NOs: 155, 156, 159, and 160; or (e) the amino acidsequences of both SEQ ID NO: 208 (substituted variable region of αchain) and SEQ ID NO: 159 (constant region of α chain), both SEQ ID NO:156 (variable region of β chain) and SEQ ID NO: 160 (constant region ofβ chain), or all of SEQ ID NOs: 208, 156, 159, and 160. Preferably, thepolypeptide comprises the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 9,10, 13, and 14; all of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 135, and 136; all of SEQ IDNOs: 143, 144, 147, and 148; all of SEQ ID NOs: 155, 156, 159, and 160;or all of SEQ ID NOs: 208, 156, 159, and 160.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive polypeptide maycomprise a combination of any of the CDR regions described herein and aconstant region of the inventive TCR. In this regard, the polypeptidecan comprise the amino acid sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-5 and 13,all of SEQ ID NOs: 6-8 and 14, all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8 and 13-14; all ofSEQ ID NOs: 125-127 and 135, all of SEQ ID NOs: 128-130 and 136, all ofSEQ ID NOs: 125-130 and 135-136, all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-139 and 147, allof SEQ ID NOs: 140-142 and 148, all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-142 and 147-148,all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-151 and 159, all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207, and159, all of SEQ ID NOs: 152-154 and 160, all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154 and159-160, or all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207, 152-154, and 159-160.Preferably, the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequences of all ofSEQ ID NOs: 3-8 and 13-14, all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-130 and 135-136, allof SEQ ID NOs: 137-142 and 147-148, all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154 and159-160, or all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207, 152-154, and 159-160.

In an embodiment of the invention, the inventive polypeptide cancomprise the entire length of an α or β chain of the TCR describedherein. In this regard, the inventive polypeptide can comprise the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 133, SEQ IDNO: 134, SEQ ID NO: 145, SEQ ID NO: 146, SEQ ID NO: 157, SEQ ID NO: 209,SEQ ID NO: 158, both SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, both SEQ ID NOs: 133 and134, both SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146, both SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158, or bothSEQ ID NOs: 209 and 158. Preferably, the polypeptide comprises the aminoacid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, both SEQ ID NOs: 133 and134, both SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146, both SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158, or bothSEQ ID NOs: 209 and 158.

The invention further provides a protein comprising at least one of thepolypeptides described herein. By “protein” is meant a moleculecomprising one or more polypeptide chains.

In an embodiment, the protein of the invention can comprise a firstpolypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-5and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQID NOs: 6-8; a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acidsequences of SEQ ID NOs: 125-127 and a second polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 128-130; a firstpolypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:137-139 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NOs: 140-142; a first polypeptide chain comprisingthe amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 149-151 and a second polypeptidechain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 152-154; or afirst polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of SEQ IDNOs: 149-150 and 207 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 152-154. Alternatively or additionally, theprotein of the invention can comprise a first polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 and a secondpolypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; afirst polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:131 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 132; a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 143 and a second polypeptide chain comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 144; a first polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 155 and a secondpolypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 156;or a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 208 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 156. The protein can, for example, comprise (a) afirst polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQID NOs: 9 and 13 or all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-5 and 13 and a secondpolypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ IDNOs: 10 and 14 or all of SEQ ID NOs: 6-8 and 14; (b) a first polypeptidechain comprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 131 and135 or all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-127 and 135 and a second polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 132 and 136 orall of SEQ ID NOs: 128-130 and 136; (c) a first polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 143 and 147 orall of SEQ ID NOs: 137-139 and 147 and a second polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 144 and 148 orall of SEQ ID NOs: 140-142 and 148; (d) a first polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 155 and 159 orall of SEQ ID NOs: 149-151 and 159 and a second polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 156 and 160 orall of SEQ ID NOs: 152-154 and 160; or (e) a first polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 208 and 159 orall of SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207 and 159 and a second polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 156 and 160 orall of SEQ ID NOs: 152-154 and 160. Alternatively or additionally, theprotein of the invention can comprise (a) a first polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and a secondpolypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12;(b) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 133 and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 134; (c) a first polypeptide chain comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 145 and a second polypeptide chaincomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 146; (d) a firstpolypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 157and a second polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 158; or (e) a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 209 and a second polypeptide chain comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 158. In this instance, the protein ofthe invention can be a TCR. Alternatively, if, for example, the proteincomprises a single polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequencesof both SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, both SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134, both SEQ IDNOs: 145 and 146, both SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158, or both SEQ ID NOs: 209and 158, or if the first and/or second polypeptide chain(s) of theprotein further comprise(s) other amino acid sequences, e.g., an aminoacid sequence encoding an immunoglobulin or a portion thereof, then theinventive protein can be a fusion protein. In this regard, the inventionalso provides a fusion protein comprising at least one of the inventivepolypeptides described herein along with at least one other polypeptide.The other polypeptide can exist as a separate polypeptide of the fusionprotein, or can exist as a polypeptide, which is expressed in frame (intandem) with one of the inventive polypeptides described herein. Theother polypeptide can encode any peptidic or proteinaceous molecule, ora portion thereof, including, but not limited to an immunoglobulin, CD3,CD4, CD8, an MHC molecule, a CD1 molecule, e.g., CD1a, CD1b, CD1c, CD1d,etc.

The fusion protein can comprise one or more copies of the inventivepolypeptide and/or one or more copies of the other polypeptide. Forinstance, the fusion protein can comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more, copiesof the inventive polypeptide and/or of the other polypeptide. Suitablemethods of making fusion proteins are known in the art, and include, forexample, recombinant methods.

In some embodiments of the invention, the TCRs, polypeptides, andproteins of the invention may be expressed as a single proteincomprising a linker peptide linking the α chain and the β chain. In thisregard, the TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention comprisingboth SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, both SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134, both SEQ IDNOs: 145 and 146, both SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158, both SEQ ID NOs: 209 and158, both SEQ ID NO: 9 and 10, both SEQ ID NOs: 131 and 132, both SEQ IDNOs: 143 and 144, both SEQ ID NOs: 155 and 156, both SEQ ID NOs: 208 and156, all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8, all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-130, all of SEQ IDNOs: 137-142, all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154, all of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 10, 13,and 14, all of SEQ ID NOs: 131, 132, 135, and 136, all of SEQ ID NOs:143, 144, 147, and 148, all of SEQ ID NOs: 155, 156, 159, and 160, allof SEQ ID NOs: 208, 156, 159, and 160, all of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8 and 13-14,all of SEQ ID NOs: 125-130 and 135-136, all of SEQ ID NOs: 137-142 and147-148, all of SEQ ID NOs: 149-154 and 159-160, or all of SEQ ID NOs:149-150, 207, 152-154, and 159-160 may further comprise a linkerpeptide. The linker peptide may advantageously facilitate the expressionof a recombinant TCR, polypeptide, and/or protein in a host cell. Thelinker peptide may comprise any suitable amino acid sequence. In anembodiment of the invention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein comprisesa self-cleaving, viral linker peptide. For example, the linker peptidemay comprise SEQ ID NO: 28. Upon expression of the construct includingthe linker peptide by a host cell, the linker peptide may be cleaved,resulting in separated α and β chains. In an embodiment of theinvention, the TCR, polypeptide, or protein may comprise an amino acidsequence comprising a full-length α chain, a full-length β chain, and alinker peptide positioned between the α and β chains (for example, theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45 (anti-KRAS G12D TCR), SEQ ID NO:162 (anti-KRAS G12D TCR), SEQ ID NO: 201 (anti-KRAS G12V TCR), or SEQ IDNO: 203 (anti-KRAS G12V TCR)).

The protein of the invention can be a recombinant antibody comprising atleast one of the inventive polypeptides described herein. As usedherein, “recombinant antibody” refers to a recombinant (e.g.,genetically engineered) protein comprising at least one of thepolypeptides of the invention and a polypeptide chain of an antibody, ora portion thereof. The polypeptide of an antibody, or portion thereof,can be a heavy chain, a light chain, a variable or constant region of αheavy or light chain, a single chain variable fragment (scFv), or an Fc,Fab, or F(ab)₂′ fragment of an antibody, etc. The polypeptide chain ofan antibody, or portion thereof, can exist as a separate polypeptide ofthe recombinant antibody. Alternatively, the polypeptide chain of anantibody, or portion thereof, can exist as a polypeptide, which isexpressed in frame (in tandem) with the polypeptide of the invention.The polypeptide of an antibody, or portion thereof, can be a polypeptideof any antibody or any antibody fragment, including any of theantibodies and antibody fragments described herein.

The TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention (includingfunctional variants thereof) can be of any length, i.e., can compriseany number of amino acids, provided that the TCRs, polypeptides, orproteins (or functional variants thereof) retain their biologicalactivity, e.g., the ability to specifically bind to mutated target,e.g., mutated KRAS; detect cancer in a mammal; or treat or preventcancer in a mammal, etc. For example, the polypeptide can be in therange of from about 50 to about 5000 amino acids long, such as 50, 70,75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 ormore amino acids in length. In this regard, the polypeptides of theinvention also include oligopeptides.

The TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention of the inventioncan comprise synthetic amino acids in place of one or morenaturally-occurring amino acids. Such synthetic amino acids are known inthe art, and include, for example, aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid,norleucine, α-amino n-decanoic acid, homoserine,S-acetylaminomethyl-cysteine, trans-3- and trans-4-hydroxyproline,4-aminophenylalanine, 4-nitrophenylalanine, 4-chlorophenylalanine,4-carboxyphenylalanine, β-phenylserine β-hydroxyphenylalanine,phenylglycine, α-naphthylalanine, cyclohexylalanine, cyclohexylglycine,indoline-2-carboxylic acid, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylicacid, aminomalonic acid, aminomalonic acid monoamide,N′-benzyl-N′-methyl-lysine, N′,N′-dibenzyl-lysine, 6-hydroxylysine,ornithine, α-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid, α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid, α-aminocycloheptane carboxylic acid,α-(2-amino-2-norbornane)-carboxylic acid, α,γ-diaminobutyric acid,α,β-diaminopropionic acid, homophenylalanine, and α-tert-butylglycine.

The TCRs, polypeptides, and proteins of the invention (includingfunctional variants thereof) can be glycosylated, amidated,carboxylated, phosphorylated, esterified, N-acylated, cyclized via,e.g., a disulfide bridge, or converted into an acid addition salt and/oroptionally dimerized or polymerized, or conjugated.

The TCR, polypeptide, and/or protein of the invention can be obtained bymethods known in the art such as, for example, de novo synthesis. Also,polypeptides and proteins can be recombinantly produced using thenucleic acids described herein using standard recombinant methods. See,for instance, Green and Sambrook, Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual, 4^(th) ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.(2012). Alternatively, the TCRs, polypeptides, and/or proteins describedherein (including functional variants thereof) can be commerciallysynthesized by companies, such as Synpep (Dublin, Calif.), PeptideTechnologies Corp. (Gaithersburg, Md.), and Multiple Peptide Systems(San Diego, Calif.). In this respect, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides,and proteins can be synthetic, recombinant, isolated, and/or purified.

Included in the scope of the invention are conjugates, e.g.,bioconjugates, comprising any of the inventive TCRs, polypeptides, orproteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells,populations of host cells, and antibodies, or antigen binding portionsthereof. Conjugates, as well as methods of synthesizing conjugates ingeneral, are known in the art.

An embodiment of the invention provides a nucleic acid comprising anucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteinsdescribed herein. “Nucleic acid,” as used herein, includes“polynucleotide,” “oligonucleotide,” and “nucleic acid molecule,” andgenerally means a polymer of DNA or RNA, which can be single-stranded ordouble-stranded, synthesized or obtained (e.g., isolated and/orpurified) from natural sources, which can contain natural, non-naturalor altered nucleotides, and which can contain a natural, non-natural oraltered internucleotide linkage, such as a phosphoroamidate linkage or aphosphorothioate linkage, instead of the phosphodiester found betweenthe nucleotides of an unmodified oligonucleotide. In an embodiment, thenucleic acid comprises complementary DNA (cDNA). It is generallypreferred that the nucleic acid does not comprise any insertions,deletions, inversions, and/or substitutions. However, it may be suitablein some instances, as discussed herein, for the nucleic acid to compriseone or more insertions, deletions, inversions, and/or substitutions.

Preferably, the nucleic acids of the invention are recombinant. As usedherein, the term “recombinant” refers to (i) molecules that areconstructed outside living cells by joining natural or synthetic nucleicacid segments to nucleic acid molecules that can replicate in a livingcell, or (ii) molecules that result from the replication of thosedescribed in (i) above. For purposes herein, the replication can be invitro replication or in vivo replication.

The nucleic acids can be constructed based on chemical synthesis and/orenzymatic ligation reactions using procedures known in the art. See, forexample, Green and Sambrook et al., supra. For example, a nucleic acidcan be chemically synthesized using naturally occurring nucleotides orvariously modified nucleotides designed to increase the biologicalstability of the molecules or to increase the physical stability of theduplex formed upon hybridization (e.g., phosphorothioate derivatives andacridine substituted nucleotides). Examples of modified nucleotides thatcan be used to generate the nucleic acids include, but are not limitedto, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil,hypoxanthine, xanthine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxymethyl)uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine,5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil,beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N⁶-isopentenyladenine,1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine,2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N⁶-substitutedadenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil,5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine,5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil,2-methylthio-N⁶-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine,5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil,uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl)uracil, and 2,6-diaminopurine. Alternatively, one or more of the nucleicacids of the invention can be purchased from companies, such asMacromolecular Resources (Fort Collins, Colo.) and Synthegen (Houston,Tex.).

The nucleic acid can comprise any nucleotide sequence which encodes anyof the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein. In anembodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid may comprise thenucleotide sequence of (a) SEQ ID NO: 22 (CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR αchain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23 (CDR2 of anti-KRAS G12DTCR α chain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 (CDR3 ofanti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25(CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ IDNO: 26 (CDR2 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); or the nucleotide sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 27 (CDR3 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); (b) SEQ ID NO:164 (CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQID NO: 165 (CDR2 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); the nucleotide sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 166 (CDR3 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); the nucleotidesequence of SEQ ID NO: 167 (CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); thenucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 168 (CDR2 of anti-KRAS G12D TCR βchain); or the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 169 (CDR3 of anti-KRASG12D TCR β chain); (c) SEQ ID NO: 177 (CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR αchain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 178 (CDR2 of anti-KRASG12V TCR α chain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 179 (CDR3 ofanti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 180(CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ IDNO: 181 (CDR2 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); or the nucleotide sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 182 (CDR3 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); or (d) SEQ IDNO: 189 (CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); the nucleotide sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 190 (CDR2 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); the nucleotidesequence of SEQ ID NO: 191 (CDR3 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); thenucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 192 (CDR1 of anti-KRAS G12V TCR βchain); the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 193 (CDR2 of anti-KRASG12V TCR β chain); or the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 194 (CDR3 ofanti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain). Preferably, the nucleic acid comprises thenucleotide sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-24; all of SEQ ID NOs:25-27; all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-27; all of SEQ ID NOs: 164-166; all of SEQID NOs: 167-169; all of SEQ ID NOs: 164-169; all of SEQ ID NOs: 177-179;all of SEQ ID NOs: 180-182; all of SEQ ID NOs: 177-182; all of SEQ IDNOs: 189-191; all of SEQ ID NOs: 192-194; SEQ ID NOs: 189-194. In anespecially preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid comprises thenucleotide sequences of all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-27; all of SEQ ID NOs:164-169; all of SEQ ID NOs: 177-182; or all of SEQ ID NOs: 189-194. Inan embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid may comprise thenucleotide sequence of (a) SEQ ID NO: 15 (variable region of anti-KRASG12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 16 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12D TCRβ chain); or both SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16; (b) SEQ ID NO: 170 (variableregion of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 171 (variable regionof anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); or both SEQ ID NOs: 170 and 171; (c) SEQID NO: 183 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO:184 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); or both SEQ ID NOs:183 and 184; (d) SEQ ID NO: 195 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR αchain); SEQ ID NO: 196 (variable region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain);or both SEQ ID NOs: 195 and 196. Preferably, the nucleic acid comprisesthe nucleotide sequences of both SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16; both SEQ ID NOs:170 and 171; both SEQ ID NOs: 183 and 184; or both SEQ ID NOs: 195 and196. In another embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid maycomprise the nucleotide sequence of (a) SEQ ID NO: 17 (full-lengthanti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 18 (full length anti-KRAS G12DTCR β chain); or both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18; (b) SEQ ID NO: 172(full-length anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 173 (full lengthanti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); or both of SEQ ID NOs: 172 and 173; (c) SEQID NO: 185 (full-length anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 186(full length anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); or both of SEQ ID NOs: 185 and186; or (d) SEQ ID NO: 197 (full-length anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); SEQID NO: 198 (full length anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); or both of SEQ IDNOs: 197 and 198. Preferably, the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotidesequences of both of SEQ ID NOs: 17 and 18; both SEQ ID NOs: 172 and173; both SEQ ID NOs: 185 and 186; or both SEQ ID NOs: 197 and 198.

In an embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid further comprises anucleotide sequence that encodes the constant region of a TCR α or βchain. In this regard, any of the nucleic acids described herein mayfurther comprise the nucleotide sequence of (a) SEQ ID NO: 19 (constantregion of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 20 (constant region ofanti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); or both SEQ ID NOs: 19 and 20; (b) SEQ IDNO: 174 (constant region of anti-KRAS G12D TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 175(constant region of anti-KRAS G12D TCR β chain); or both SEQ ID NOs: 174and 175; (c) SEQ ID NO: 187 (constant region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR αchain); SEQ ID NO: 188 (constant region of anti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain);or both SEQ ID NOs: 187 and 188; or (d) SEQ ID NO: 199 (constant regionof anti-KRAS G12V TCR α chain); SEQ ID NO: 200 (constant region ofanti-KRAS G12V TCR β chain); or both SEQ ID NOs: 199 and 200.Preferably, the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of bothSEQ ID NOs: 15 and 19; both SEQ ID NOs: 16 and 20; all of SEQ ID NOs:15-16 and 19-20; all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-24 and 19; all of SEQ ID NOs:25-27 and 20; all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-27 and 19-20; both SEQ ID NO: 170and 174; both SEQ ID NOs: 171 and 175; all of SEQ ID NOs: 170-171 and174-175; all of SEQ ID NOs: 164-166 and 174; all of SEQ ID NOs: 167-169and 175; all of SEQ ID NOs: 164-169 and 174-175; both of SEQ ID NOs: 183and 187; both of SEQ ID NOs: 184 and 188; all of SEQ ID NOs: 183-184 and187-188; SEQ ID NO: 177-179 and 187; all of SEQ ID NOs: 180-182 and 188;all of SEQ ID NOs: 177-182 and 187-188; both of SEQ ID NOs: 195 and 199;both of SEQ ID NOs: 196 and 200; all of SEQ ID NOs: 195-196 and 199-200;all of SEQ ID NOs: 189-191 and 199; all of SEQ ID NOs: 192-194 and 200;or all of SEQ ID NOs: 189-194 and 199-200. In an especially preferredembodiment, the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequences of allof SEQ ID NOs: 15-16 and 19-20; all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-27 and 19-20; allof SEQ ID NOs: 170-171 and 174-175; all of SEQ ID NOs: 164-169 and174-175; all of SEQ ID NOs: 183-184 and 187-188; all of SEQ ID NOs:177-182 and 187-188; all of SEQ ID NOs: 195-196 and 199-200; or all ofSEQ ID NOs: 189-194 and 199-200.

Any of the nucleic acids described herein may further comprise anucleotide sequence encoding a linker peptide. The nucleotide sequenceencoding the linker peptide may comprise any suitable nucleotidesequence. For example, the nucleotide sequence encoding a linker peptidemay comprise the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44.

In an embodiment of the invention, a nucleic acid comprising thenucleotide sequence of all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-24; all of SEQ ID NOs:25-27; all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-27; both SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 16; both SEQ IDNOs: 17 and 18; both SEQ ID NOs: 15 and 19; both SEQ ID NOs: 16 and 20;all of SEQ ID NOs: 15-16 and 19-20; all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-24 and 19; allof SEQ ID NOs: 25-27 and 20; all of SEQ ID NOs: 22-27 and 19-20; all ofSEQ ID NOs: 164-169; both SEQ ID NOs: 170 and 171; both SEQ ID NOs: 172and 173; all of SEQ ID NOs: 164-169 and 174-175; all of SEQ ID NOs:170-171 and 174-175; all of SEQ ID NOs: 177-182; both of SEQ ID NO:183-184; both of SEQ ID NOs: 185-186; all of SEQ ID NOs: 177-182 and187-188; all of SEQ ID NOs: 183-184 and 187-188; all of SEQ ID NOs:189-194; both of SEQ ID NOs: 195-196; both of SEQ ID NOs: 197-198; allof SEQ ID NOs: 189-194 and 199-200; or all of SEQ ID NOs: 195-196 and199-200 encodes a murine TCR.

The invention also provides a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotidesequence which is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of any of thenucleic acids described herein or a nucleotide sequence which hybridizesunder stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence of any of thenucleic acids described herein.

The nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditionspreferably hybridizes under high stringency conditions. By “highstringency conditions” is meant that the nucleotide sequencespecifically hybridizes to a target sequence (the nucleotide sequence ofany of the nucleic acids described herein) in an amount that isdetectably stronger than non-specific hybridization. High stringencyconditions include conditions which would distinguish a polynucleotidewith an exact complementary sequence, or one containing only a fewscattered mismatches from a random sequence that happened to have a fewsmall regions (e.g., 3-10 bases) that matched the nucleotide sequence.Such small regions of complementarity are more easily melted than afull-length complement of 14-17 or more bases, and high stringencyhybridization makes them easily distinguishable. Relatively highstringency conditions would include, for example, low salt and/or hightemperature conditions, such as provided by about 0.02-0.1 M NaCl or theequivalent, at temperatures of about 50-70° C. Such high stringencyconditions tolerate little, if any, mismatch between the nucleotidesequence and the template or target strand, and are particularlysuitable for detecting expression of any of the inventive TCRs. It isgenerally appreciated that conditions can be rendered more stringent bythe addition of increasing amounts of formamide.

The invention also provides a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotidesequence that is at least about 70% or more, e.g., about 80%, about 90%,about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about97%, about 98%, or about 99% identical to any of the nucleic acidsdescribed herein. In this regard, the nucleic acid may consistessentially of any of the nucleotide sequences described herein.

The nucleic acids of the invention can be incorporated into arecombinant expression vector. In this regard, the invention provides arecombinant expression vector comprising any of the nucleic acids of theinvention. In an embodiment of the invention, the recombinant expressionvector comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the α chain, the βchain, and linker peptide. For example, in an embodiment, therecombinant expression vector comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQID NO: 21 (encoding α and β chains SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12 with a linkerpositioned between them); SEQ ID NO: 163 (encoding a and β chains SEQ IDNOs: 157 and 158 with a linker positioned between them); SEQ ID NO: 202(encoding α and β chains SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146 with a linkerpositioned between them); or SEQ ID NO: 176 (encoding α and β chains SEQID NOs: 133 and 134 with a linker positioned between them).

For purposes herein, the term “recombinant expression vector” means agenetically-modified oligonucleotide or polynucleotide construct thatpermits the expression of an mRNA, protein, polypeptide, or peptide by ahost cell, when the construct comprises a nucleotide sequence encodingthe mRNA, protein, polypeptide, or peptide, and the vector is contactedwith the cell under conditions sufficient to have the mRNA, protein,polypeptide, or peptide expressed within the cell. The vectors of theinvention are not naturally-occurring as a whole. However, parts of thevectors can be naturally-occurring. The inventive recombinant expressionvectors can comprise any type of nucleotide, including, but not limitedto DNA and RNA, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded,synthesized or obtained in part from natural sources, and which cancontain natural, non-natural or altered nucleotides. The recombinantexpression vectors can comprise naturally-occurring,non-naturally-occurring internucleotide linkages, or both types oflinkages. Preferably, the non-naturally occurring or altered nucleotidesor internucleotide linkages does not hinder the transcription orreplication of the vector.

The recombinant expression vector of the invention can be any suitablerecombinant expression vector, and can be used to transform or transfectany suitable host cell. Suitable vectors include those designed forpropagation and expansion or for expression or both, such as plasmidsand viruses. The vector can be selected from the group consisting of thepUC series (Fermentas Life Sciences), the pBluescript series(Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.), the pET series (Novagen, Madison, Wis.),the pGEX series (Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden), and the pEX series(Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Bacteriophage vectors, such as λGT10,λGT11, λZapII (Stratagene), λEMBL4, and λNM1149, also can be used.Examples of plant expression vectors include pBI01, pBI101.2, pBI101.3,pBI121 and pBIN19 (Clontech). Examples of animal expression vectorsinclude pEUK-Cl, pMAM and pMAMneo (Clontech). Preferably, therecombinant expression vector is a viral vector, e.g., a retroviralvector. In an especially preferred embodiment, the recombinantexpression vector is an MSGV1 vector.

The recombinant expression vectors of the invention can be preparedusing standard recombinant DNA techniques described in, for example,Green and Sambrook et al., supra. Constructs of expression vectors,which are circular or linear, can be prepared to contain a replicationsystem functional in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell. Replicationsystems can be derived, e.g., from ColE1, 2μ plasmid, λ, SV40, bovinepapillomavirus, and the like.

Desirably, the recombinant expression vector comprises regulatorysequences, such as transcription and translation initiation andtermination codons, which are specific to the type of host cell (e.g.,bacterium, fungus, plant, or animal) into which the vector is to beintroduced, as appropriate and taking into consideration whether thevector is DNA- or RNA-based.

The recombinant expression vector can include one or more marker genes,which allow for selection of transformed or transfected host cells.Marker genes include biocide resistance, e.g., resistance toantibiotics, heavy metals, etc., complementation in an auxotrophic hostcell to provide prototrophy, and the like. Suitable marker genes for theinventive expression vectors include, for instance, neomycin/G418resistance genes, hygromycin resistance genes, histidinol resistancegenes, tetracycline resistance genes, and ampicillin resistance genes.

The recombinant expression vector can comprise a native or nonnativepromoter operably linked to the nucleotide sequence encoding the TCR,polypeptide, or protein, or to the nucleotide sequence which iscomplementary to or which hybridizes to the nucleotide sequence encodingthe TCR, polypeptide, or protein. The selection of promoters, e.g.,strong, weak, inducible, tissue-specific and developmental-specific, iswithin the ordinary skill of the artisan. Similarly, the combining of anucleotide sequence with a promoter is also within the skill of theartisan. The promoter can be a non-viral promoter or a viral promoter,e.g., a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, an SV40 promoter, an RSVpromoter, and a promoter found in the long-terminal repeat of the murinestem cell virus.

The inventive recombinant expression vectors can be designed for eithertransient expression, for stable expression, or for both. Also, therecombinant expression vectors can be made for constitutive expressionor for inducible expression.

Further, the recombinant expression vectors can be made to include asuicide gene. As used herein, the term “suicide gene” refers to a genethat causes the cell expressing the suicide gene to die. The suicidegene can be a gene that confers sensitivity to an agent, e.g., a drug,upon the cell in which the gene is expressed, and causes the cell to diewhen the cell is contacted with or exposed to the agent. Suicide genesare known in the art and include, for example, the Herpes Simplex Virus(HSV) thymidine kinase (TK) gene, cytosine daminase, purine nucleosidephosphorylase, and nitroreductase.

Another embodiment of the invention further provides a host cellcomprising any of the recombinant expression vectors described herein.As used herein, the term “host cell” refers to any type of cell that cancontain the inventive recombinant expression vector. The host cell canbe a eukaryotic cell, e.g., plant, animal, fungi, or algae, or can be aprokaryotic cell, e.g., bacteria or protozoa. The host cell can be acultured cell or a primary cell, i.e., isolated directly from anorganism, e.g., a human. The host cell can be an adherent cell or asuspended cell, i.e., a cell that grows in suspension. Suitable hostcells are known in the art and include, for instance, DH5α E. colicells, Chinese hamster ovarian cells, monkey VERO cells, COS cells,HEK293 cells, and the like. For purposes of amplifying or replicatingthe recombinant expression vector, the host cell is preferably aprokaryotic cell, e.g., a DH5α cell. For purposes of producing arecombinant TCR, polypeptide, or protein, the host cell is preferably amammalian cell. Most preferably, the host cell is a human cell. Whilethe host cell can be of any cell type, can originate from any type oftissue, and can be of any developmental stage, the host cell preferablyis a peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) or a peripheral blood mononuclearcell (PBMC). More preferably, the host cell is a T cell.

For purposes herein, the T cell can be any T cell, such as a cultured Tcell, e.g., a primary T cell, or a T cell from a cultured T cell line,e.g., Jurkat, SupT1, etc., or a T cell obtained from a mammal. Ifobtained from a mammal, the T cell can be obtained from numeroussources, including but not limited to blood, bone marrow, lymph node,the thymus, or other tissues or fluids. T cells can also be enriched foror purified. Preferably, the T cell is a human T cell. The T cell can beany type of T cell and can be of any developmental stage, including butnot limited to, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ double positive T cells, CD4⁺ helper T cells,e.g., Th₁ and Th₂ cells, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells (e.g., cytotoxic Tcells), tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), memory T cells (e.g.,central memory T cells and effector memory T cells), naïve T cells, andthe like.

Also provided by the invention is a population of cells comprising atleast one host cell described herein. The population of cells can be aheterogeneous population comprising the host cell comprising any of therecombinant expression vectors described, in addition to at least oneother cell, e.g., a host cell (e.g., a T cell), which does not compriseany of the recombinant expression vectors, or a cell other than a Tcell, e.g., a B cell, a macrophage, a neutrophil, an erythrocyte, ahepatocyte, an endothelial cell, an epithelial cells, a muscle cell, abrain cell, etc. Alternatively, the population of cells can be asubstantially homogeneous population, in which the population comprisesmainly of host cells (e.g., consisting essentially of) comprising therecombinant expression vector. The population also can be a clonalpopulation of cells, in which all cells of the population are clones ofa single host cell comprising a recombinant expression vector, such thatall cells of the population comprise the recombinant expression vector.In one embodiment of the invention, the population of cells is a clonalpopulation comprising host cells comprising a recombinant expressionvector as described herein.

In an embodiment of the invention, the numbers of cells in thepopulation may be rapidly expanded. Expansion of the numbers of T cellscan be accomplished by any of a number of methods as are known in theart as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,034,334; 8,383,099;U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0244133; Dudley et al., J.Immunother., 26:332-42 (2003); and Riddell et al., J. Immunol. Methods,128:189-201 (1990). In an embodiment, expansion of the numbers of Tcells is carried out by culturing the T cells with OKT3 antibody, IL-2,and feeder PBMC (e.g., irradiated allogeneic PBMC).

The invention further provides an antibody, or antigen binding portionthereof, which specifically binds to a functional portion of any of theTCRs described herein. Preferably, the functional portion specificallybinds to the cancer antigen, e.g., the functional portion comprising theamino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 3, 125, 137, or 149 (CDR1 of a chain),SEQ ID NO: 4, 126, 138, or 150 (CDR2 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 5, 127,139, 151, or 207 (CDR3 of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 6, 128, 140, or 152 (CDR1of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 7, 129, 141, or 153 (CDR2 of β chain), SEQ IDNO: 8, 130, 142, or 154 (CDR3 of β chain), SEQ ID NO: 9, 131, 143, 155,or 208 (variable region of α chain), SEQ ID NO: 10, 132, 144, or 156(variable region of β chain), or a combination thereof, e.g., SEQ IDNOs: 3-5; SEQ ID NOs: 6-8; SEQ ID NOs: 3-8; SEQ ID NO: 9; SEQ ID NO: 10;SEQ ID NOs: 9-10; SEQ ID NOs: 125-127, SEQ ID NOs: 128-130, SEQ ID NOs:125-130, SEQ ID NOs: 137-139, SEQ ID NOs: 140-142, SEQ ID NOs: 137-142,SEQ ID NOs: 149-151, SEQ ID NOs: 149-150 and 207, SEQ ID NOs: 152-154,SEQ ID NOs: 149-154; SEQ ID NOs: 149-150, 207, and 152-154; SEQ ID NOs:131-132, SEQ ID NOs: 143-144, SEQ ID NOs: 155-156; SEQ ID NO: 208; orSEQ ID NOs: 208 and 156. More preferably, the functional portioncomprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-8, SEQ ID NOs: 9 and10, SEQ ID NOs: 125-130, SEQ ID NOs: 137-142, SEQ ID NOs: 149-154, SEQID NOs: 149-150, 207, and 152-154, SEQ ID NOs: 131-132, SEQ ID NOs:143-144, SEQ ID NOs: 155-156, or SEQ ID NOs: 208 and 156. In a preferredembodiment, the antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, binds toan epitope which is formed by all 6 CDRs (CDR1-3 of the α chain andCDR1-3 of the β chain). The antibody can be any type of immunoglobulinthat is known in the art. For instance, the antibody can be of anyisotype, e.g., IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM, etc. The antibody can bemonoclonal or polyclonal. The antibody can be a naturally-occurringantibody, e.g., an antibody isolated and/or purified from a mammal,e.g., mouse, rabbit, goat, horse, chicken, hamster, human, etc.Alternatively, the antibody can be a genetically-engineered antibody,e.g., a humanized antibody or a chimeric antibody. The antibody can bein monomeric or polymeric form. Also, the antibody can have any level ofaffinity or avidity for the functional portion of the inventive TCR.Desirably, the antibody is specific for the functional portion of theinventive TCR, such that there is minimal cross-reaction with otherpeptides or proteins.

Methods of testing antibodies for the ability to bind to any functionalportion or functional variant of the inventive TCR are known in the artand include any antibody-antigen binding assay, such as, for example,radioimmunoassay (RIA), ELISA, Western blot, immunoprecipitation, andcompetitive inhibition assays.

Suitable methods of making antibodies are known in the art. Forinstance, standard hybridoma methods are described in, e.g., C. A.Janeway et al. (eds.), Immunobiology, 8^(th) Ed., Garland Publishing,New York, N.Y. (2011)). Alternatively, other methods, such asEBV-hybridoma methods, methods of producing antibodies in non-humananimals, and bacteriophage vector expression systems are known in theart.

Phage display can also be used to generate the antibody of theinvention. In this regard, phage libraries encoding antigen-bindingvariable (V) domains of antibodies can be generated using standardmolecular biology and recombinant DNA techniques (see, e.g., Green andSambrook et al. (eds.), Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 4^(th)Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (2012)). Phageencoding a variable region with the desired specificity are selected forspecific binding to the desired antigen, and a complete or partialantibody is reconstituted comprising the selected variable domain.Nucleic acid sequences encoding the reconstituted antibody areintroduced into a suitable cell line, such as a myeloma cell used forhybridoma production, such that antibodies having the characteristics ofmonoclonal antibodies are secreted by the cell (see, e.g., Janeway etal., supra).

Methods for generating humanized antibodies are well known in the art.Antibodies can also be produced by transgenic mice that are transgenicfor specific heavy and light chain immunoglobulin genes. Such methodsare known in the art and described in, for example, Janeway et al.,supra.

The invention also provides antigen binding portions of any of theantibodies described herein. The antigen binding portion can be anyportion that has at least one antigen binding site, such as Fab,F(ab′)₂, dsFv, sFv, diabodies, and triabodies.

A single-chain variable region fragment (sFv) antibody fragment, whichconsists of a truncated Fab fragment comprising the variable (V) domainof an antibody heavy chain linked to a V domain of a light antibodychain via a synthetic peptide, can be generated using routinerecombinant DNA technology techniques (see, e.g., Janeway et al.,supra). Similarly, disulfide-stabilized variable region fragments (dsFv)can be prepared by recombinant DNA technology. Antibody fragments of theinvention, however, are not limited to these exemplary types of antibodyfragments.

Also, the antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, can be modifiedto comprise a detectable label, such as, for instance, a radioisotope, afluorophore (e.g., fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), phycoerythrin(PE)), an enzyme (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase),and element particles (e.g., gold particles).

The inventive TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinantexpression vectors, host cells (including populations thereof), andantibodies (including antigen binding portions thereof), can be isolatedand/or purified. The term “isolated” as used herein means having beenremoved from its natural environment. The term “purified” as used hereinmeans having been increased in purity, wherein “purity” is a relativeterm, and not to be necessarily construed as absolute purity. Forexample, the purity can be at least about 50%, can be greater than 60%,70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or can be 100%.

The inventive TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinantexpression vectors, host cells (including populations thereof), andantibodies (including antigen binding portions thereof), all of whichare collectively referred to as “inventive TCR materials” hereinafter,can be formulated into a composition, such as a pharmaceuticalcomposition. In this regard, the invention provides a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising any of the TCRs, polypeptides, proteins, nucleicacids, expression vectors, host cells (including populations thereof),and antibodies (including antigen binding portions thereof) describedherein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The inventivepharmaceutical compositions containing any of the inventive TCRmaterials can comprise more than one inventive TCR material, e.g., apolypeptide and a nucleic acid, or two or more different TCRs.Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition can comprise an inventiveTCR material in combination with another pharmaceutically activeagent(s) or drug(s), such as a chemotherapeutic agents, e.g.,asparaginase, busulfan, carboplatin, cisplatin, daunorubicin,doxorubicin, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, methotrexate,paclitaxel, rituximab, vinblastine, vincristine, etc.

Preferably, the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Withrespect to pharmaceutical compositions, the carrier can be any of thoseconventionally used for the particular inventive TCR material underconsideration. Such pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are well-knownto those skilled in the art and are readily available to the public. Itis preferred that the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier be one whichhas no detrimental side effects or toxicity under the conditions of use.

The choice of carrier will be determined in part by the particularinventive TCR material, as well as by the particular method used toadminister the inventive TCR material. Accordingly, there are a varietyof suitable formulations of the pharmaceutical composition of theinvention. Suitable formulations may include any of those for oral,parenteral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial,intrathecal, or interperitoneal administration. More than one route canbe used to administer the inventive TCR materials, and in certaininstances, a particular route can provide a more immediate and moreeffective response than another route.

Preferably, the inventive TCR material is administered by injection,e.g., intravenously. When the inventive TCR material is a host cellexpressing the inventive TCR (or functional variant thereof), thepharmaceutically acceptable carrier for the cells for injection mayinclude any isotonic carrier such as, for example, normal saline (about0.90% w/v of NaCl in water, about 300 mOsm/L NaCl in water, or about 9.0g NaCl per liter of water), NORMOSOL R electrolyte solution (Abbott,Chicago, Ill.), PLASMA-LYTE A (Baxter, Deerfield, Ill.), about 5%dextrose in water, or Ringer's lactate. In an embodiment, thepharmaceutically acceptable carrier is supplemented with human serumalbumen.

For purposes of the invention, the amount or dose (e.g., numbers ofcells when the inventive TCR material is one or more cells) of theinventive TCR material administered should be sufficient to effect,e.g., a therapeutic or prophylactic response, in the subject or animalover a reasonable time frame. For example, the dose of the inventive TCRmaterial should be sufficient to bind to a cancer antigen (e.g., mutatedKRAS), or detect, treat or prevent cancer in a period of from about 2hours or longer, e.g., 12 to 24 or more hours, from the time ofadministration. In certain embodiments, the time period could be evenlonger. The dose will be determined by the efficacy of the particularinventive TCR material and the condition of the animal (e.g., human), aswell as the body weight of the animal (e.g., human) to be treated.

Many assays for determining an administered dose are known in the art.For purposes of the invention, an assay, which comprises comparing theextent to which target cells are lysed or IFN-γ is secreted by T cellsexpressing the inventive TCR, polypeptide, or protein uponadministration of a given dose of such T cells to a mammal among a setof mammals of which is each given a different dose of the T cells, couldbe used to determine a starting dose to be administered to a mammal. Theextent to which target cells are lysed or IFN-γ is secreted uponadministration of a certain dose can be assayed by methods known in theart.

The dose of the inventive TCR material also will be determined by theexistence, nature and extent of any adverse side effects that mightaccompany the administration of a particular inventive TCR material.Typically, the attending physician will decide the dosage of theinventive TCR material with which to treat each individual patient,taking into consideration a variety of factors, such as age, bodyweight, general health, diet, sex, inventive TCR material to beadministered, route of administration, and the severity of the cancerbeing treated. In an embodiment in which the inventive TCR material is apopulation of cells, the number of cells administered per infusion mayvary, e.g., from about 1×10⁶ to about 1×10¹² cells or more. In certainembodiments, fewer than 1×10⁶ cells may be administered.

One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that theinventive TCR materials of the invention can be modified in any numberof ways, such that the therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy of theinventive TCR materials is increased through the modification. Forinstance, the inventive TCR materials can be conjugated either directlyor indirectly through a bridge to a targeting moiety. The practice ofconjugating compounds, e.g., inventive TCR materials, to targetingmoieties is known in the art. The term “targeting moiety” as usedherein, refers to any molecule or agent that specifically recognizes andbinds to a cell-surface receptor, such that the targeting moiety directsthe delivery of the inventive TCR materials to a population of cells onwhich surface the receptor is expressed. Targeting moieties include, butare not limited to, antibodies, or fragments thereof, peptides,hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and any other natural ornon-natural ligands, which bind to cell surface receptors (e.g.,Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), T cell receptor (TCR), B-cellreceptor (BCR), CD28, Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGF),nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), etc.). The term “bridge” asused herein, refers to any agent or molecule that links the inventiveTCR materials to the targeting moiety. One of ordinary skill in the artrecognizes that sites on the inventive TCR materials, which are notnecessary for the function of the inventive TCR materials, are idealsites for attaching a bridge and/or a targeting moiety, provided thatthe bridge and/or targeting moiety, once attached to the inventive TCRmaterials, do(es) not interfere with the function of the inventive TCRmaterials, i.e., the ability to bind to mutated target, e.g., mutatedKRAS or to detect, treat, or prevent cancer.

It is contemplated that the inventive pharmaceutical compositions, TCRs,polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors,host cells, or populations of cells can be used in methods of treatingor preventing cancer. Without being bound to a particular theory, theinventive TCRs are believed to bind specifically to mutated target,e.g., mutated KRAS, such that the TCR (or related inventive polypeptideor protein), when expressed by a cell, is able to mediate an immuneresponse against a target cell expressing mutated target, e.g., mutatedKRAS. In this regard, the invention provides a method of treating orpreventing cancer in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammalany of the pharmaceutical compositions, TCRs, polypeptides, or proteinsdescribed herein, any nucleic acid or recombinant expression vectorcomprising a nucleotide sequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides,proteins described herein, or any host cell or population of cellscomprising a recombinant vector which encodes any of the TCRs,polypeptides, or proteins described herein, in an amount effective totreat or prevent cancer in the mammal.

An embodiment of the invention provides any of the pharmaceuticalcompositions, TCRs, polypeptides, or proteins described herein, anynucleic acid or recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotidesequence encoding any of the TCRs, polypeptides, proteins describedherein, or any host cell or population of cells comprising a recombinantvector which encodes any of the TCRs, polypeptides, or proteinsdescribed herein, for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer in amammal.

The terms “treat,” and “prevent” as well as words stemming therefrom, asused herein, do not necessarily imply 100% or complete treatment orprevention. Rather, there are varying degrees of treatment or preventionof which one of ordinary skill in the art recognizes as having apotential benefit or therapeutic effect. In this respect, the inventivemethods can provide any amount of any level of treatment or preventionof cancer in a mammal. Furthermore, the treatment or prevention providedby the inventive method can include treatment or prevention of one ormore conditions or symptoms of the cancer being treated or prevented.For example, treatment or prevention can include promoting theregression of a tumor. Also, for purposes herein, “prevention” canencompass delaying the onset of the cancer, or a symptom or conditionthereof.

Also provided is a method of detecting the presence of cancer in amammal. The method comprises (i) contacting a sample comprising one ormore cells from the mammal with any of the inventive TCRs, polypeptides,proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells,populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof,or pharmaceutical compositions described herein, thereby forming acomplex, and detecting the complex, wherein detection of the complex isindicative of the presence of cancer in the mammal.

With respect to the inventive method of detecting cancer in a mammal,the sample of cells can be a sample comprising whole cells, lysatesthereof, or a fraction of the whole cell lysates, e.g., a nuclear orcytoplasmic fraction, a whole protein fraction, or a nucleic acidfraction.

For purposes of the inventive detecting method, the contacting can takeplace in vitro or in vivo with respect to the mammal. Preferably, thecontacting is in vitro.

Also, detection of the complex can occur through any number of waysknown in the art. For instance, the inventive TCRs, polypeptides,proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells,populations of cells, or antibodies, or antigen binding portionsthereof, described herein, can be labeled with a detectable label suchas, for instance, a radioisotope, a fluorophore (e.g., fluoresceinisothiocyanate (FITC), phycoerythrin (PE)), an enzyme (e.g., alkalinephosphatase, horseradish peroxidase), and element particles (e.g., goldparticles).

For purposes of the inventive methods, wherein host cells or populationsof cells are administered, the cells can be cells that are allogeneic orautologous to the mammal. Preferably, the cells are autologous to themammal.

With respect to the inventive methods, the cancer can be any cancer,including any of acute lymphocytic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia,alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, bone cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer,cancer of the anus, anal canal, or anorectum, cancer of the eye, cancerof the intrahepatic bile duct, cancer of the joints, cancer of the neck,gallbladder, or pleura, cancer of the nose, nasal cavity, or middle ear,cancer of the oral cavity, cancer of the vagina, cancer of the vulva,chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid cancer, colon cancer,colocrectal cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, uterinecervical cancer, gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor, glioma, Hodgkinlymphoma, hypopharynx cancer, kidney cancer, larynx cancer, livercancer, lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, melanoma, multiple myeloma,nasopharynx cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer of the oropharynx,ovarian cancer, cancer of the penis, pancreatic cancer, peritoneum,omentum, and mesentery cancer, pharynx cancer, prostate cancer, rectalcancer, renal cancer, skin cancer, small intestine cancer, soft tissuecancer, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, cancer of theuterus, ureter cancer, and urinary bladder cancer. A preferred cancer iscancer is pancreatic, colorectal, lung, endometrial, ovarian, orprostate cancer. Preferably, the lung cancer is lung adenocarcinoma, theovarian cancer is epithelial ovarian cancer, and the pancreatic canceris pancreatic carcinoma. In another preferred embodiment, the cancer isa cancer that expresses the mutated amino acid sequence of VVVGADGVGK(SEQ ID NO: 2), VVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 34), VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33),or VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35), which are present in mutated human KRAS,mutated human NRAS, and mutated human HRAS.

The mammal referred to in the inventive methods can be any mammal. Asused herein, the term “mammal” refers to any mammal, including, but notlimited to, mammals of the order Rodentia, such as mice and hamsters,and mammals of the order Logomorpha, such as rabbits. It is preferredthat the mammals are from the order Carnivora, including Felines (cats)and Canines (dogs). It is more preferred that the mammals are from theorder Artiodactyla, including Bovines (cows) and Swines (pigs) or of theorder Perssodactyla, including Equines (horses). It is most preferredthat the mammals are of the order Primates, Ceboids, or Simoids(monkeys) or of the order Anthropoids (humans and apes). An especiallypreferred mammal is the human.

The following examples further illustrate the invention but, of course,should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

Example 1

This example demonstrates the isolation of murine anti-KRAS₇₋₁₆ G12D10-mer TCRs.

A computer algorithm was used to generate candidate HLA-A11*01 KRASpeptides. For the algorithm, the strong binder threshold was 50 nM, andthe weak binder threshold was 500 nM. The candidate peptides are shownin Table 1.

TABLE 1 SEQ ID HLA-A11*01 Description NO: Sequence (nM) G12D 9-mer 34VVGADGVGK 194 G12D 10-mer  2 VVVGADGVGK 220 G12V 9-mer 35 VVGAVGVGK  50G12V 10-mer 33 VVVGAVGVGK  71 G12C 9-mer 36 VVGACGVGK  69 G12C 10-mer 37VVVGACGVGK 120 G12R 9-mer 38 VVGARGVGK  86 G12R 10-mer 39 VVVGARGVGK 119

HLA-A11 transgenic mice were immunized with the G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQID NO: 2) three times. After the third immunization, the spleen andlymph nodes were removed and cultured in vitro with the G12D 10-merpeptide at various concentrations (1 μM, 0.1 μM, and 0.01 μM) for sevendays. T cells isolated from the lymph node (LN) and spleen cultures weretested for reactivity against (i) COS7 cells transduced to expressHLA-A11 (COST/A11) which had been pulsed with (a) no peptide (COS/A11),(b) WT KRAS₇₋₁₆ peptide (SEQ ID NO: 30) (COS/A11+WT peptide), (c) G12D10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 2) (COS/A11+G12D peptide), or (d) G12V 10-merpeptide (SEQ ID NO: 33) (COS/A11+G12V peptide); and (ii) COS7/A11 cellstransfected with a vector encoding a (a) WT KRAS minigene (encoding23-mer SEQ ID NO: 118) (COS/A11/WT) or (b) G12D minigene (encoding23-mer SEQ ID NO: 119) (COS/A11/G12D). Interferon (IFN)-γ was measured.The results are shown in Table 2A (pulsed target cells) and Table 2B(transfected target cells). As shown in Tables 2A and 2B, HLA-A11restricted murine T cells were reactive against KRAS G12D peptide SEQ IDNO: 2.

TABLE 2A mIFN-γ (pg/ml) Stimulated COS/ COS/ COS/ with G12D COS/ A11 +WT A11 + G12D A11 + G12V peptide A11 peptide peptide peptide 0.01 uMLN-well 50 34 >20000 52 (W) 1 LN-W2 52 57 >20000 95 LN-W3 169 92 1284961 Spleen- 32 32 45 33 W1 Spleen- 35 50 57 44 W2 Spleen- 68 72 94 40 W3 0.1 uM LN-W1 38 38 16729 36 LN-W2 62 81 >20000 81 LN-W3 73 116 >20000129 Spleen- 36 43 14423 35 W1 Spleen- 33 34 >20000 33 W2 Spleen- 44 4018107 38 W3   1 uM LN-W1 101 210 >20000 407 LN-W2 92 248 >20000 577LN-W3 57 226 >20000 403 Spleen- 32 44 >20000 55 W1 Spleen- 34 70 >20000108 W2 Spleen- 42 78 >20000 261 W3

TABLE 2B mIFN-γ (pg/ml) COS/A11 COS/A11/WT COS/A11/G12D Spleen-W1 32 3219184 Spleen-W2 34 36 19545 Spleen-W3 42 45 >20000 LN-Wl 101 74 6001LN-W2 92 147 13589 LN-W3 57 64 11644 Spleen-W1 36 53 12865 Spleen-W2 3349 12728 Spleen-W3 44 45 12125 LN-Wl 38 44 7025 LN-W2 62 54 19384 LN-W373 66 17431 Spleen-W1 32 32 52 Spleen-W2 35 35 63 Spleen-W3 68 36 94LN-Wl 50 38 12096 LN-W2 52 56 14098 LN-W3 169 46 6877

The TCR was isolated from the cells in each positive well using 5′ RapidAmplification of cDNA Ends (RACE). Two dominant alpha chains and fourdominant beta chains were identified (Table 3).

TABLE 3 V Region D/J Region CDR3 SEQ ID NO: Alpha TRAV12N-3*01 39*01CALRGNAGAKLTF  5 chains TRAV16D/DV11*03 52*01 CAMREDTGANTGKLTF 40 BetaTRBV4*01 (CB2) 2*01/2-3*01 CASSSRDWSAETLYF  8 chains TRBV5*01 (CB2)2*01/2-1*01 CASSQDSLGRAEQFF 41 TRBV16*01 (CB2) (LN 0.01) 2*01/2-3*01CASSSDWGGAETLYF 42 TRBV16*01 (CB2) (Spl) 2*01/2-3*01 CASSSGLGSSAETLYF 43

Example 2

This example demonstrates that PBL transduced to express a TCR α chaincomprising SEQ ID NO: 11 and a TCR β chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 12 arereactive against HLA-A11+/G12D 10-mer+ targets.

The two dominant α chains and four dominant β chains of Table 3 wereindividually cloned into MSGV1 retroviral vectors. PBL were individuallyco-transduced to express one of various pairs of an α and β chain, asshown in Table 4. Transduced PBL were screened for reactivity against(i) HLA-A11-expressing T2/A11+(Table 4A) or COS7/A11+(Table 4B) cellspulsed with (a) G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 2), (b) G12V 10-merpeptide (SEQ ID NO: 33), (c) WT KRAS 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 30), or(d) no peptide (none); or (ii) COS7/A11 cells transduced with a (a) G12Dminigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 119) (COS/A11/G12D), (b) G12Vminigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 120) (COS/A11/G12V), (c) WT KRASminigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 118) (COS/A11/WT), or (d) no cells(medium only) (Table 4C). IFN-γ secretion was measured. The results areshown in Tables 4A-C. In Tables 4A-C, bold IFN-γ secretion valuesindicate those pairs of TCR α and β chains that demonstrated reactivity,and IFN-γ secretion values in bold with underlining indicate the pair ofTCR α and β chains that demonstrated the best reactivity. As shown inTables 4A-C, PBL co-transduced to express murine TCR α chainTRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and murine TCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO:12) demonstrated reactivity against HLA-A11-expressing COS7 cells pulsedwith G12D 10-mer or G12D transfectant target cells.

TABLE 4A IFN-γ (pg/ml) upon co-culture with T2/A11 + target cells WT 10-G12D 10- G12V None mer mer 10-mer TRAV12N- TRBV4*01 108 136 >10000 1083*01 TRBV5*01 348 138 319 263 TRBV16*01 107 100 93 120 (LN) TRBV16*01234 132 246 132 (SP) TRAV16D/ TRBV4*01 56 39 595 39 DV11*03 TRBV5*01 140146 848 155 TRBV16*01 71 100 135 51 (LN) TRBV16*01 228 297 133 144 (SP)

TABLE 4B IFN-γ (pg/ml) upon co- culture with COS/A11 + targets WT r10-G12D G12V None mer 10-mer 10-mer TRAV12N- TRBV4*01 123 107 >10000 1293*01 TRBV5*01 57 71 86 58 TRBV16*01 (LN) 55 69 70 81 TRBV16*01 (Sp) 9864 71 78 TRAV16D/ TRBV4*01 71 57 246 71 DV11*03 TRBV5*01 74 66 1228 70TRBV16*01 (LN) 74 77 68 85 TRBV16*01 (Sp) 108 121 104 100

TABLE 4C IFN-γ (pg/ml) upon co- culture with target cells COS/ COS/ COS/A11/WT A11/G12D A11/G12V Medium TRAV12N- TRBV4*01 130 >10000 126 18 3*01TRBV5*01 95 106 83 22 TRBV16*01 97 91 98 18 (LN) TRBV16*01 129 114 84 23(SP) TRAV16D/ TRBV4*01 95 302 89 18 DV11*03 TRBV5*01 94 92 98 18TRBV16*01 99 106 114 24 (LN) TRBV16*01 176 143 138 26 (SP)

Example 3

This example demonstrates that PBL co-transduced with a TCR α chaincomprising SEQ ID NO: 11 and a TCR β chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 12 arereactive against HLA-A11⁺/G12D+ pancreatic tumor cell line FA6-2/A11.

Human PBL were co-transduced with a TCR α chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 11and a TCR β chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 12. Co-transduced cells wereco-cultured with (i) COST cells transfected with (a) HLA-A11 alone(COS7/A11) or HLA-A11 transduced with a (b) WT KRAS minigene (encoding23-mer SEQ ID NO: 118) (COS7/A11/KRAS WT), (c) KRAS G12D minigene(encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 119) (COS7/A11/KRAS G12D), (d) KRAS G12Vminigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 120) (COS7/A11/KRAS G12V); (ii)pancreatic tumor cell lines Mia-Paca2/A11, T3m4/A11, AsPC-1, FA6-2/A11,MDA-Panc-48/A11, PANC-1, PK-45p/A11, SK.PC.3/A11, x135m1/A11, or (iii)medium alone. IFN-γ secretion was measured. The results are shown inTable 5. The KRAS mutations of the tumor cell lines are indicated inparentheses. As shown in Table 5, PBL co-transduced with a TCR α chainTRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and TCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO: 12)demonstrated reactivity against HLA-A11+/G12D+ pancreatic tumor cellline FA6-2/A11.

TABLE 5 Target Cell IFN-γ (pg/mL) COS7/A11 146 COS7/A11/KRAS WT 116COS7/A11/KRAS (G12D) 18231 COS7/A11/KRAS (G12V) 111 Mia-Paca2/A11(G12C)* 53 T3m4/A11 (Q61H)* 178 SK.PC.3/A11 (G12V)** 53 x135m1/A11(G12V)** 105 AsPC-1 (G12D)** 18 FA6-2/A11 (G12D)** 3982 MDA-Panc-48/A11(G12D)** 56 PANC-1 (A11+, G12D)** 28 PK.45p/A11 (G12D)** 231 Medium (nocells) 26 *Mutation determined by genotyping. **Mutation determined byenotypin and mRNA expression (see Tables 13 and 20).

Example 4

This example demonstrates that PBL that were transduced with aretroviral vector encoding a TCR α chain TRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11)and TCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO: 12) demonstrated reactivity againstCOS7/A11 cells pulsed with KRAS G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 2).

Human PBL were transduced with a retroviral vector encoding the TCR αchain TRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and TCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO:12). Transduced PBL were co-cultured with COS7/A11 cells that werepulsed with KRAS G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 2), KRAS G12D 9-merpeptide (SEQ ID NO: 34), KRAS G12D 9-mer peptide SEQ ID NO: 124, KRASG12V 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 33), or WT KRAS 10-mer peptide (SEQ IDNO: 30) at various concentrations shown in Table 6. IFN-γ secretion wasmeasured. The results are shown in Table 6. As shown in Table 6, humanPBL transduced to express a TCR α chain TRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11) andTCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO: 12) demonstrated reactivity againstCOS7/A11 cells pulsed with KRAS G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 2).

TABLE 6 IFN-γ (pg/mL) Peptide G12D KRAS₇₋₁₅ G12D KRAS₈₋₁₆ concen- G12D9-mer G12V 9-mer WT tration 10- (VVVGADGVG) 10- (VVGADGVGK) 10- (M) merSEQ ID NO: 124 mer SEQ ID NO: 34 mer 1 × 10⁻⁶  16918 87 97 136 78 1 ×10⁻⁷  8677 91 83 95 88 1 × 10⁻⁸  4220 72 86 99 102 1 × 10⁻⁹  775 90 8890 99 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ 115 90 88 85 95 1 × 10⁻¹¹ 98 95 86 85 86 1 × 10⁻¹² 11183 96 94 102 1 × 10⁻¹³ 80 112 97 115 98

Example 5

This example demonstrates that PBL that were transduced with aretroviral vector encoding a TCR α chain TRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11)and TCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO: 12) demonstrated reactivity againstHLA-A11-expressing pancreatic tumor line FA6-2/A11.

Human PBL were transduced with a retroviral vector encoding the TCR αchain TRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and TCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO:12). Untransduced control PBL or transduced PBL were co-cultured withthe target cells set forth in Table 7. IFN-γ secretion was measured. Theresults are shown in Table 7. The KRAS mutations of the tumor cell linesare indicated in parentheses. As shown in Table 7, human PBL transducedto express a TCR α chain TRAV12N-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and TCR β chainTRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NO: 12) demonstrated reactivity against FA6-2/A11 tumorcell line. Untransduced PBL secreted less than 100 pg/mL IFN-γ uponco-culture with each target cell set forth in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Target Cell IFN-γ (pg/mL) COS7/A11 90 COS7/A11/KRAS WT 71COS7/A11/KRAS (G12D) 15496 COS7/A11/KRAS (G12V) 58 Barr (A11+, G12R)* 21BxPC3/A11 (WT)* 18 Mia-Paca2/A11 (G12C)* 57 Paca44/A11 (G12V)** 30T3m4/A11 (Q61H)* 28 AsPC-1/A11 (G12D)** 60 FA6-2/A11 (G12D)** 753MDA-Panc-48/A11 (G12D)** 23 PANC-1 (A11+, G12D)** 23 PK.45p/A11 (G12D)**28 Medium (no cells) 38 *Mutation (or lack thereof (i.e., “WT”)determined by genotyping. **Mutation determined by genotyping and mRNAexpression (see Tables 13 and 20).

Example 6

This example demonstrates the isolation of murine anti-KRAS₇₋₁₆ G12V10-mer TCRs.

HLA-A11 transgenic mice were immunized with the G12V 10-mer peptide (SEQID NO: 33) twice. After the second immunization, the spleen and lymphnodes were removed and cultured in vitro with the G12V 10-mer peptide atvarious concentrations (1 μM, 0.1 μM, and 0.01 μM) for seven days. Tcells isolated from the lymph node and spleen cultures were tested forreactivity against (i) COS7/A11 cells transfected with a vector encoding(a) G12V minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 120) (COSA11/G12V); (b) WTKRAS minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 118) (COSA11/WT); (c) G12Dminigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 119) (COSA11/G12D); (ii)HLA-A11-expressing KRAS G12V+ pancreatic tumor cell lines Paca44/A11,SKPC3/A11, or x135m1/A11; or (iii) no target cells (medium) (Table 8).The results are shown in Table 8. In Table 8, underlined IFN-γ secretionvalues indicate those cells that demonstrated reactivity againsttransfectants and tumors.

TABLE 8 mIFN-γ (pg/ml) Spleen Spleen Spleen LN (1 μM) (0.1 μM) (0.01 μM)LN (1 μM) LN (0.1 μM) (0.01 μM) Cos7/A11/WT   34   32 32  38  46  37Cos7/A11/G12D   61   32 32  41  41  38 Cos7/A11/G12V >20000 12113 581685 3126 4765 Paca44/A11   32   32 36  39  44  39 SKPC3/A11  8235  38541  106  169  164 x135 ml/A11   32   36 49  42  40  41 Medium   32   3250  46  35  42

Oligoclonal TCRs were isolated from the cells that demonstrated highlyspecific G12V peptide and transfectant reactivity using 5′ RACE. Twodominant alpha chains and three dominant beta chains were identified(Table 9).

TABLE 9 V Region D/J Region CDR3 SEQ ID NO: Frequency Alpha TRAV19*0153*01 CAAGDSGGSNYKLTF 139 31% chains TRAV3-3*01 17*01 CAVSGGTNSAGNKLTF204 14% Beta TRBV13-1*02 (CB2) 2*01/2-1*01 CASASWGGYAEQFF 205 23% chainsTRBV4*01 (CB2) 2*01/2-1*01 CASSRDWGPAEQFF 130 15% TRBV1*01 (CB2)1*01/2-3*01 CTCSADRGAETLYF 206 12%

Example 7

This example demonstrates that PBL transduced to express (i) a TCR αchain comprising SEQ ID NO: 133 and a TCR β chain comprising SEQ ID NO:134 or (ii) a TCR α chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 145 and a TCR β chaincomprising SEQ ID NO: 146 are reactive against HLA-A11⁺/G12V 10-mer+targets.

The two dominant α chains and three dominant β chains of Table 9 wereindividually cloned into MSGV1 retroviral vectors. Anti-CD3 stimulatedPBL were individually co-transduced to express one of various pairs ofan α and β chain, as shown in Tables 10A-10B. Transduced PBL werescreened for reactivity against (i) COS7/A11+ cells pulsed with (a) G12D10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 2), (b) G12V 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 33),or (c) WT KRAS 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 30) (Table 10A) or (ii)COS7/A11 cells transduced with a (a) G12D minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQID NO: 119) (COS/A11/G12D), (b) G12V minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ IDNO: 120) (COS/A11/G12V), or (c) WT KRAS minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ IDNO: 118) (COS/A11/WT) (Table 10B). Untransfected Cos7/A11 cells thatwere not pulsed with peptide (Cos7/A11) and medium with no cells(medium) served as negative controls. PBL pulsed or transduced with GFPserved as a positive control. IFN-γ secretion was measured.

The results are shown in Tables 10A-10B. In Tables 10A-10B, bold IFN-γsecretion values indicate those pairs of TCR α and β chains thatdemonstrated reactivity. As shown in Tables 10A-10B, PBL co-transducedto express (i) both murine TCR α chain TRAV19*01 (SEQ ID NO: 145) andmurine TCR β chain TRBV13-1*02 (SEQ ID NO: 146) or (ii) both murine TCRα chain TRAV3-3*01 (SEQ ID NO: 133) and murine TCR β chain TRBV4*01 (SEQID NO: 134) demonstrated reactivity against HLA-A11-expressing COS7cells pulsed with G12V 10-mer or G12V transfectant target cells, but notcontrol peptides or control transfectants.

TABLE 10A (IFN-γ (pg/ml)) Cos7/ Cos7/A11 + Cos7/A11 + Cos7/A11 + Me- A11WT 10-mer G12D 10-mer G12V 10-mer dium GFP 66 50 60 54 17 TRAV19*01 +105 90 94 14138 29 TRBV13-1*02 TRAV19*01 + 30 30 30 27 16 TRBV4*01TRAV19*01 + 69 37 38 37 16 TRBV1*01 TRAV3-3*01 + 68 47 49 44 23TRBV13-1*02 TRAV3-3*01 + 42 36 39 8374 16 TRBV4*01 TRAV3-3*01 + 53 41 3951 16 TRBV1*01

TABLE 10B (IFN-γ (pg/ml)) Cos7/ Cos7/A11/ Cos7/A11/ Cos7/A11/ Me- A11 WTG12D G12V dium GFP 66 72 60 55 17 TRAV19*01 + 105 92 81 18058 29TRBV13-1*02 TRAV19*01 + 30 32 27 30 16 TRBV4*01 TRAV19*01 + 69 45 45 4416 TRBV1*01 TRAV3-3*01 + 68 51 56 61 23 TRBV13-1*02 TRAV3-3*01 + 42 4138 11113 16 TRBV4*01 TRAV3-3*01 + 53 44 47 45 16 TRBV1*01

Example 8

This example demonstrates that the TRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 murine anti-KRASG12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) has a higher affinity for pulsedtarget peptide as compared to TRAV19*01/TRBV13-1*02 murine anti-KRASG12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146).

PBL were transduced with either (i) TRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 murine anti-KRASG12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) or (ii) TRAV19*01/TRBV13-1*02 murineanti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146). Transduced cells wereco-cultured with Cos7/A11 cells pulsed with (a) G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQID NO: 2), (b) G12V 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 33), (c) WT KRAS 10-merpeptide (SEQ ID NO: 30), (d) G12D 9-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 34), or (e)G12V 9-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 35) at the concentrations shown in Tables11A and 11B. IFN-γ secretion was measured.

The results are shown in Table 11A (TRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NOs: 133and 134)) and Table 11B (TRAV19*01/TRBV13-1*02 (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and146)). In Tables 11A-11B, bold IFN-γ secretion values indicate thosetarget peptide concentrations at which the TCR demonstrated reactivity.As shown in Tables 11A-11B, T cells transduced with theTRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) recognized Cos7/A11pulsed with both 9-mer and 10-mer peptides and recognized 9-mer atpulsed at a concentration of 0.01 nM. Accordingly, theTRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) recognized pulsedtarget peptide with a higher avidity as compared to theTRAV19*01/TRBV13-1*02 (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146) TCR. The increasedreactivity of the TRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146) TCRagainst the G12V 9-mer peptide as compared to the 10-mer peptide alsosuggested that 9-mer peptide is the minimal determinant.

TABLE 11A Peptide IFN-γ (pg/ml) concentration WT G12D G12D G12V G12V(10^(×) μM) 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer  −6 50 47 43 19479 9778  −742 48 40 19900 6696  −8 50 49 46 19193 657  −9 50 44 41 9578 104 −10 4852 53 1877 59 −11 55 49 43 119 52 −12 47 55 49 56 52 −13 68 52 49 60 52

TABLE 11B Peptide IFN-γ (pg/ml) concentration WT G12D G12D G12V G12V(10^(×) μM) 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer  −6 57 63 61 112 15184  −756 57 50 70 7725  −8 57 48 49 52 2084  −9 49 54 59 55 326 −10 57 62 5264 61 −11 65 52 64 62 67 −12 67 57 62 66 61 −13 70 70 63 64 71

Example 9

This example demonstrates that the TRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 murine anti-KRASG12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) recognizes HLA-A11+ KRAS G12V+pancreatic tumor cell lines.

PBL were transduced with either (i) TRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 murine anti-KRASG12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) or (ii) TRAV19*01/TRBV13-1*02 murineanti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and 146). Transduced cells wereco-cultured with (i) COS7/A11 cells transduced with a (a) G12D minigene(encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 119) (COS/A11/G12D), (b) G12V minigene(encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 120) (COS/A11/G12V), or (c) WT KRAS minigene(encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 118) (COS/A11/WT); (ii) KRAS G12V negativepancreatic tumor cell lines transduced with HLA-A11; (iii) KRAS G12V+pancreatic tumor cell lines transduced with HLA-A11; or (iv) parental(untransduced) pancreatic tumor cell lines, as shown in Table 12. IFN-γsecretion was measured.

The results are shown in Table 12. In Table 12, bold IFN-γ secretionvalues indicate those target cells for which the TCR demonstratedreactivity. As shown in Table 12, the TRAV3-3*01/TRBV4*01 murineanti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) recognized more HLA-A11⁺KRAS G12V+ pancreatic tumor cell lines as compared to theTRAV19*01/TRBV13-1*02 murine anti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 145 and146).

TABLE 12 IFN-γ (pg/ml) TRAV3-3*01/ TRAV19*01/ TRBV4*01 TRBV13-1*02Transfectants Cos/A11 51 55 Cos/A11/G12D 53 44 Cos/All/WT 52 51Cos/A11/G12V 24290 11794 HLA-A11 BxPC3/A11 (WT)* 25 32 transduced,MiaPaca2/A11 (G12C)* 16 16 KRAS G12V− T3m4/A11 (Q61H)* 26 33 AsPC-1/A11(G12D)** 22 26 FA6-2/A11 (G12D)** 18 18 MDA-Panc-48/A11 16 16 (G12D)**PK.45p/A11 (G12D)** 31 29 HLA-A11 Capan-1/A11 (G12V)** 99 28 transduced,CFPAC-1/A11 (G12V)** 224 28 KRAS Paca44/A11 (G12V)** 577 21 G12V+SK.PC3/A11 (G12V)** 7947 2658 x135m1/A11 (G12V)** 1020 90 Parental BxPC3(WT)* 16 16 tumor lines MiaPaca2 (G12C)* 18 16 T3m4 (Q61H)* 19 18 AsPC-1(G12D)** 16 16 FA6-2 (G12D)** 23 19 MDA-Panc-48 (G12D)** 19 21 PK.45p(G12D)** 16 16 Capan-1 (G12V)** 22 20 CFPAC-1 (G12V)** 16 16 Paca44(G12V)** 16 16 SK.PC3 (G12V)** 28 19 x135m1 (G12V)** 27 20 HLA-A11+PANC-1 (HLA-A11+, 16 17 G12V− G12D)** Barr (HLA-A11+, G12R)* 17 22Medium 18 16 *Mutation (or lack thereof, i.e., “WT”) determined bygenotyping. **Mutation determined by genotyping and mRNA expression (seeTables 13 and 20).

Example 10

This example demonstrates the correlation between IFN-γ production andmutated KRAS expression for the TRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 murine anti-KRAS G12VTCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134).

The number of copies of KRAS G12V mRNA expressed by each of thepancreatic tumor cell lines shown in Table 13 was measured and comparedto the number of copies of β-actin mRNA expressed by the indicated cellline (Table 13). The amount of IFN-γ secreted by the PBL transduced withthe TRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 murine anti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and134) upon co-culture with each cell line measured in Example 9 isreproduced in Table 13. The reactivity of the TRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 murineanti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) (in terms of IFN-γsecretion upon co-culture with target cells) correlated with the numberof copies of KRAS G12V mRNA.

TABLE 13 β-actin Ref Total KRAS G12V (Copy (Copy (Copy per 10⁶ per 10⁶IFN-γ number) β-actin) β-actin) (pg/ml) BxPC3/A11 3.13 × 10⁷ 6.84 × 10³2.51 25 MiaPaca2/A11 2.01 × 10⁷ 5.87 × 10³   1.06 × 10⁻¹ 16 Capan-1/A112.28 × 10⁷ 5.92 × 10³ 5.42 × 10³ 99 CFPAC-1/A11 1.96 × 10⁷ 2.09 × 10⁴3.72 × 10³ 224 Paca44/A11 1.80 × 10⁷ 4.94 × 10³ 3.62 × 10³ 577SK.PC3/A11 3.28 × 10⁷ 1.48 × 10⁴ 1.42 × 10⁴ 7947 x135m1/A11 8.50 × 10⁶8.75 × 10³ 9.85 × 10³ 1020

Example 11

This example demonstrates that the TRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 murine anti-KRASG12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) recognizes mutated KRAS either (i) inthe presence of CD4 and the absence of CD8 or (ii) in the presence ofCD8 and the absence of CD4.

PBL were transduced with a nucleotide sequence encoding theTRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 murine anti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134).Transduced cells were sorted into the populations shown in Table 14 byflow cytometry. The sorted populations of cells were co-cultured with(i) COS7/A11 cells transduced with a (a) G12D minigene (encoding163-mer) (COS/A11/G12D), (b) G12V minigene (encoding 163-mer)(COS/A11/G12V), or (c) WT KRAS minigene (encoding 163-mer) (COS/A11/WT);or (ii) SK.PC3 pancreatic tumor cell line untransduced or transducedwith HLA-A11. Medium without cells served as a negative control. IFN-γsecretion was measured.

The results are shown in Table 14. In Table 14, bold IFN-γ secretionvalues indicate those target cells for which the TCR demonstratedreactivity. As shown in Table 14, the TRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 murine anti-KRASG12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) recognized target cells either (i) inthe presence of CD4 and the absence of CD8 or (ii) in the presence ofCD8 and the absence of CD4. Accordingly, the TRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 murineanti-KRAS G12V TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 133 and 134) provides highly avidrecognition of the target.

TABLE 14 PBL transduced with IFN-g (pg/ml) TRAV3-3*01/BV4*01 Cos7/A11/WTCos7/A11/G12D Cos7/A11/G12V SK.PC3 SK.PC3/A11 Medium Bulk 48 67 8294 418944 16 CD8 49 64 8150 75 8602 16 enriched CD4 16 16  763 16  458 16enriched GFP 16 17  16 20  16 16

Example 12

This example demonstrates the isolation of murine anti-KRAS₇₋₁₆ G12D10-mer TCRs.

HLA-A11 transgenic mice were immunized with the G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQID NO: 2) three times. After the third immunization, the spleen andlymph nodes were removed and cultured in vitro with the G12D 10-merpeptide at various concentrations (1 μM, 0.1 μM, and 0.01 μM) for sevendays. T cells isolated from the LN and spleen cultures were tested forreactivity against (i) COS7 cells transduced to express HLA-A11(COS7/A11) which had been pulsed with (a) no peptide (none), (b) WTKRAS₇₋₁₆ peptide (SEQ ID NO: 30) (COS/A11+WT peptide), (c) G12D 10-merpeptide (SEQ ID NO: 2) (COS/A11+G12D peptide), (d) G12V 10-mer peptide(SEQ ID NO: 33) (COS/A11+G12V peptide), (e) G12V 9-mer peptide (SEQ IDNO: 35), or (0 G12D 9-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 34); and (ii) COS7/A11cells transfected with a vector encoding a (a) WT KRAS minigene(encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 118) (COS/A11/WT), (b) G12D minigene(encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 119) (COS/A11/G12D), or (c) (b) G12Vminigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 120) (COS/A11/G12D). Interferon(IFN)-γ was measured.

The results are shown in Table 15A (peptide pulse) and Table 15B(transfectants). In Tables 15A and 15B, bold IFN-γ secretion valuesindicate those target peptides and target cells for which the TCRdemonstrated reactivity. As shown in Tables 15A and 15B, HLA-A11restricted murine T cells were reactive against KRAS G12D peptide SEQ IDNO: 2.

TABLE 15A Stimulated Cos7/A11 pulsed (IFN-y (pg/ml)) with WT G12D G12DG12V G12V G12D10-mer none 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer Spleen    1μM  55  49 121 >20000  54  64  0.1 μM  65  59 120  19521  65  64 0.01 μM 82  61  87  1060  66  66 LN    1 μM  57  98 807 >20000  68  95  0.1 μM 80  86 375 >20000 108  89 0.01 μM 349 339 435 >20000 296 325

TABLE 15B (IFN-γ (pg/ml)) Cos7/A11/WT Cos7/A11/G12D Cos7/A11/G12V Spleen50 >20000 49 53 >20000 59 80 847 81 LN 71 >20000 75 235 >20000 102440 >20000 328

T cells isolated from the LN and spleen cultures were also stimulated invitro with various concentrations of G12D peptides for 6-7 days and werethen co-cultured with the HLA-A11-expressing, KRAS G12D+ pancreatic celllines shown in Table 16. IFN-γ was measured.

The results are shown in Table 16. In Table 16, bold IFN-γ secretionvalues indicate those target cells for which the TCR demonstratedreactivity. As shown in Table 16, T cells isolated from the LN andspleen cultures were reactive with HLA-A11-expressing, KRAS G12D+pancreatic cell lines.

TABLE 16 stimulated with IFN-y (pg/ml) G12D10-mer Medium FA6-2/A11MDA-Panc48/A11 Panc-1 PK.45p/A11 Spleen    1 μM  47 2134 1322 48  46 0.1 μM  46 1588  665 54  54 0.01 μM  59  116  443 54  59 LN    1 μM  554614  202 61  57  0.1 μM 121 4512  211 68  74 0.01 μM 279 3019  559 96249

The TCR was isolated from the reactive cells using 5′ RACE. Two dominantalpha chains and one dominant beta chain were identified (Table 17).

TABLE 17 V Region D/J Region CDR3 SEQ ID NO: Frequency Alpha TRAV4-49*01 CAADSSNTGYQNFYF 151 30% chains 4/DV10*01(1) TRAV4- 49*01CAALNTGYQNFYF 161 10% 4/DV10*01(2) Beta TRBV12-2*01 1*01/1-CASSLTDPLDSDYTF 154 18% chains 2*01

Example 13

This example demonstrates that PBL transduced to express a TCR α chaincomprising SEQ ID NO: 157 and a TCR β chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 158are reactive against HLA-A11⁺/G12D 10-mer+ targets.

The two dominant α chains and the β chains of Table 17 were individuallycloned into MSGV1 retroviral vectors. PBL were individuallyco-transduced to express one of the two pairs of the α and β chain, asshown in Table 18. Transduced PBL were screened for reactivity against(i) COS7/A11 cells transduced with a (a) G12D minigene (encoding 23-merSEQ ID NO: 119) (COS/A11/G12D), (b) G12V minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQID NO: 120) (COS/A11/G12V), (c) WT KRAS minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ IDNO: 118) (COS/A11/WT), or (d) no cells (medium only) (Table 18). IFN-γsecretion was measured.

The results are shown in Table 18. As shown in Table 18, PBLco-transduced to express murine TCR α chain TRAV4-4*01(1) (SEQ ID NO:157) and murine TCR β chain TRBV12-2*01 (SEQ ID NO: 158) demonstratedreactivity against HLA-A11-expressing G12D transfectant target cells.

TABLE 18 IFN-γ (pg/ml) Cos/A11/ Cos/A11/ Cos/A11/ WT G1213 G12V MediumTRAV4-4*01(1)/ 31 34440 32 32 TRBV12-2*01 TRAV4-4*01(2)/ 48 79 36 40TRBV12-2*01

PBL were transduced to express the TCR TRAV4-4*01(1)/TRBV12-2*01 (SEQ IDNOs: 157 and 158) and screened for reactivity against COS7/A11 cellstransduced with a (a) G12D minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 119)(COS/A11/G12D), (b) G12V minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 120)(COS/A11/G12V), (c) WT KRAS minigene (encoding 23-mer SEQ ID NO: 118)(COS/A11/WT), (d) the pancreatic tumor lines shown in Table 19 that wereuntransduced or transduced to express HLA-A11 and the indicated KRASmutation. In Table 19, the KRAS mutation expressed by each pancreatictumor cell line is indicated. IFN-γ secretion was measured.

The results are shown in Table 19. As shown in Table 19, PBL transducedwith the TCR TRAV4-4*01(1)/TRBV12-2*01 (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158)recognized HLA-A11+G12D+ pancreatic tumor lines.

TABLE 19 IFN-γ (pg/ml) TRAV4-4/DV*01/TRBV12-2*01 Cos/A11/WT 96Cos/A11/G12D 45214 Cos/A11/G12V 99 BxPC3/A11 (WT)* 22 MiaPaca2/A11 16(G12C)* SK.PC.3/A11 22 (G12V)** T3m4/A11 (Q61H)* 42 Barr (A11+, G12R)*17 AsPC-1/A11 (G12D)** 7321 FA6-2/A11 (G12D)** 11287 MDA-Panc-48/A11 238(G12D)** PANC-1 (A11+, 114 G12D)** PK.45p/A11 (G12D)** 70 BxPC3 16MiaPaca2 16 SK.PC.3 17 T3m4 38 AsPC-1 16 FA6-2 16 MDA-Panc-48 16 PK.45p16 Medium 16 *Mutation (or lack thereof, i.e., “WT”) determined bygenotyping. **Mutation determined by genotyping and mRNA expression (seeTables 13 and 20).

Example 14

This example demonstrates the correlation between IFN-γ production andmutated KRAS expression for the TRAV4-4*01(1)/TRBV12-2*01 murineanti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158).

The number of copies of KRAS G12D mRNA expressed by each of thepancreatic tumor cell lines shown in Table 20 was measured and comparedto the number of copies of β-actin mRNA expressed by each cell line(Table 20). The amount of IFN-γ secreted by the PBL transduced with theTRAV4-4*01(1)/TRBV12-2*01 murine anti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and158) upon co-culture with each cell line is shown in Table 13. Thereactivity of the TRAV4-4*01(1)/TRBV12-2*01 murine anti-KRAS G12D TCR(SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) (in terms of IFN-γ secretion upon co-culturewith target cells) was correlated with the number of copies of KRAS G12DmRNA.

TABLE 20 β-actin Ref Total KRAS G12D (Copy (Copy (Copy per 10⁶ per 10⁶IFN-γ number) β-actin) β-actin) (pg/ml) BxPC3/A11 3.13 × 10⁷ 6.22 × 10³2.91 × 10¹ 26 Barr 1.88 × 10⁷ 7.98 × 10³   2.41 × 10⁻¹ 43 T3m4/A11 3.40× 10⁷ 1.56 × 10⁴   5.26 × 10⁻¹ 49 ASPC-1/A11 2.69 × 10⁷ 1.40 × 10⁴ 5.99× 10³ 7320 FA6-2/A11 3.01 × 10⁷  1.1 × 10⁵ 3.99 × 10⁴ 31688 MDA-Panc-4.56 × 10⁷ 4.01 × 10³ 1.90 × 10³ 433 48/A11 PANC-1 3.48 × 10⁷ 1.39 × 10⁴4.28 × 10³ 17 PK.45p/A11 4.04 × 10⁷ 1.66 × 10⁴ 2.80 × 10² 52

Example 15

This example demonstrates that the TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 murineanti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) has a higher affinity forpulsed target peptide as compared to the TRAV12N-3*01/BV4*01 murineanti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12).

PBL were transduced with either (i) T TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 murineanti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) or (ii) TRAV12N-3*01/BV4*01murine anti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12). Transduced cells wereco-cultured with Cos7/A11 cells pulsed with (a) G12D 10-mer peptide (SEQID NO: 2), (b) WT KRAS 10-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 30), (c) G12D 9-merpeptide (SEQ ID NO: 34), or (d) WT KRAS 9-mer peptide (SEQ ID NO: 31) atthe concentrations shown in Tables 21A and 21B. IFN-γ secretion wasmeasured.

The results are shown in Table 21A (TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*0 (SEQ IDNOs: 157 and 158)) and Table 21B (TRAV12N-3*01/BV4*01 (SEQ ID NOs: 11and 12)). As shown in Tables 21A-21B, T cells transduced with theTRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*0 (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) recognized 10-mer atpulsed at a concentration of 1×10⁻⁹ M. Accordingly, theTRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*0 (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) recognized pulsedtarget peptide with a higher avidity as compared to theTRAV12N-3*01/BV4*01 (SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12) TCR.

TABLE 21A Peptide IFN-γ (pg/ml) concentration WT WT G12D G12D (10^(×)M)9-mer 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer  −6 54 56 131 27407  −7 53 57 60 29508  −8 5951 47 6131  −9 54 51 53 2075 −10 51 54 53 402 −11 48 50 52 63 −12 52 4458 50 −13 51 54 51 51

TABLE 21B Peptide IFN-g (pg/ml) concentration WT WT G12D G12D (10^(×)M)9-mer 10-mer 9-mer 10-mer  −6 90 82 125 18948  −7 96 77 86 11623  −8 9585 90 3852  −9 88 102 92 108 −10 95 88 95 212 −11 84 81 88 103 −12 10576 91 93 −13 103 92 84 93

Example 16

This example demonstrates that the TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 murineanti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) has a higher affinity forG12D+ pancreatic tumor cell lines as compared to TRAV12N-3*01/BV4*01murine anti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12).

PBL were transduced with either (i) TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 murineanti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158) or (ii) TRAV12N-3*01/BV4*01murine anti-KRAS G12D TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12). Transduced cells wereco-cultured with pancreatic cell lines that were untransduced ortransduced with HLA-A11 and mutated KRAS as shown in Table 22. IFN-γsecretion was measured.

The results are shown in Table 22. As shown in Table 22, T cellstransduced with the TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*0 (SEQ ID NOs: 157 and 158)recognized G12D+ pancreatic tumor cell lines with a higher avidity ascompared to the TRAV12N-3*01/BV4*01 (SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12) TCR.

TABLE 22 IFN-g (pg/ml) TRAV4-4/DV10*01/ TRAV12N-3*01/ BV12-2*01 BV4*01BxPC3/A11 (WT)* 28 37 MiaPaca2/A11 (G12C)* 27 57 SK.PC.3/A11 (G12V)** 4144 T3m4/A11 (Q61H)* 42 135 Barr (A11+, G12R)* 31 21 AsPC-1/A11 (G12D)**7478 980 FA6-2/A11 (G12D)** 8027 1494 MDA-Panc-48/A11 362 66 (G12D)**PANC-1 (A11+, G12D)** 148 34 PK.45p/A11 (G12D)** 52 113 AsPC-1 24 16FA6-2 41 26 MDA-Panc-48 43 134 PK.45p 31 35 Medium 28 20 *Mutation (orlack thereof, i.e., “WT”) determined by genotyping. **Mutationdetermined by genotyping and mRNA expression (see Tables 13 and 20).

Example 17

This example demonstrates a Phase I/II study administering PBLtransduced with a vector encoding the murine TCR recognizing mutatedKRAS to patients with mutated KRAS-expressing cancer.

To be eligible for inclusion in the study, patients meet the normalcriteria for adoptive cell therapy (ACT)/IL-2 and have the following:

-   -   an HLA-A11+, mutated KRAS-expressing tumor (as measured by        immunohistochemistry);    -   radioiodine-refractory cancer; and    -   a positron emission tomography (PET) avid tumor or demonstrate        tumor progression within the last 6 months.

Autologous PBL are retovirally transduced with a vector encoding thealpha and beta chains of the murine anti-mutated KRAS TCR (SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12). The patient is treated with preparative, non-myeloablative,high-dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) and fludarabine (Flu). The patient istreated with high-dose, IL-2 every eight hours until tolerance. In PhaseI, the patient is treated with a starting dose of 1×10⁸ retrovirallytransduced cells. The dose is increased by half-logs, with one patientper cohort up to a dose of 1×10¹⁰ cells, followed by three patients percohort. Phase II has a two-stage design with a targeted response rate of20%.

Example 18

This example demonstrates the frequency of KRAS mutations in humancancers.

The frequency (%) of KRAS mutations in various human cancers is setforth in Table 23. Table 23 also shows the frequency (%) of specificKRAS mutations among all KRAS mutations.

TABLE 23 Frequency % of all KRAS mutations Tumor of KRAS mutation G12AG12D G12R G12C G12S G12V G13D Pancreatic 70%  2 51 12  3  2 30  1carcinoma Colorectal 36%  7 34  1  9  5 24 19 Lung 20%  7 17  2 42  5 20 2 adenocarcinoma Endometrial 18% 11 36  0  9  2 24 15 Epithelial 14%  441  2  5  0 37  5 ovarian cancer Prostate  7%  2 22  1 10  3 35 23

Example 19

This example demonstrates that a substitution of the glycine residue inthe CDR3α region of the TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 TCR provides enhancedanti-KRAS reactivity as compared to the wild-typeTRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 TCR.

The glycine residue in the CDR3α region of the TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01TCR was replaced with an alanine residue to provide a substitutedTRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 TCR (CDR3alpha G112A). PBL were transducedwith either (i) wild-type TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 TCR (SEQ ID NOs: 157and 158) or (ii) substituted TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 TCR (SEQ ID NOs:209 and 158). Transduced cells were co-cultured with Cos cellstransduced with HLA-A11 and WT KRAS (Cos/A11/WT), Cos cells transducedwith HLA-A11 and G12D KRAS (Cos/A11/G12D), pancreatic tumor cell lineFA6-2 transduced with HLA-A11 (FA6-2/A11), or pancreatic tumor cell linePanc-1. Transduced cells cultured alone (medium) served as control.IFN-γ secretion (pg/ml) was measured. The results are shown in Table 24.

TABLE 24 Substituted TRAV4-4/ WT TRAV4-4/ DV10*01/BV12-2*01DV10*01/BV12-2*01 (CDR3alpha G112A) (SEQ ID NOs: 157 (SEQ ID NOs: 209and 158) and 158) Cos/A11/WT 51 64 COs/A11/G12D 465 634 FA6-2/A11 26283631 Panc-1 37 33 Medium 48 37

As shown in Table 24, a substitution of the glycine residue in the CDR3αregion of the TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 TCR provided enhanced anti-KRASreactivity as compared to the wild-type TRAV4-4/DV10*01/BV12-2*01 TCR.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” andsimilar referents in the context of describing the invention (especiallyin the context of the following claims) are to be construed to coverboth the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein orclearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one”followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of Aand B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listeditems (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (Aand B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1.-23. (canceled)
 24. An isolated or purified T cell receptor (TCR)having antigenic specificity for a mutated epitope, the amino acidsequence of the mutated epitope consisting of the amino acid sequence ofVVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2), VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQID NO: 35).
 25. The TCR of claim 24, wherein the TCR has antigenicspecificity for the mutated epitope presented in the context of anHLA-A11 molecule.
 26. The TCR of claim 24, comprising an α chainconstant region and a β chain constant region, wherein: (a) the α chainconstant region comprises an amino acid sequence at least 90% identicalto the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 and the β chain constantregion comprises an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; or (b) the α chain constant regioncomprises an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 159 and the β chain constant regioncomprises an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 160. 27. The TCR of claim 24, the amino acidsequence of the mutated epitope consisting of the amino acid sequence ofVVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2).
 28. The TCR of claim 24, for the amino acidsequence of the mutated epitope consisting of the amino acid sequence ofVVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35).
 29. An isolatedor purified nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding theTCR of claim
 24. 30. A recombinant expression vector comprising thenucleic acid of claim
 29. 31. An isolated host cell comprising therecombinant expression vector of claim
 30. 32. The host cell of claim31, wherein the cell is human.
 33. The host cell of claim 32, whereinthe cell is a T cell.
 34. A population of cells comprising at least onehost cell of claim
 33. 35. A pharmaceutical composition comprising theTCR of claim 24 or a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequenceencoding the TCR of claim 24 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.36. A method of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, the methodcomprising administering to the mammal the pharmaceutical composition ofclaim 35 in an amount effective to treat or prevent a cancer expressinga mutated epitope comprising the amino acid sequence of VVVGADGVGK (SEQID NO: 2), VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35) inthe mammal.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the mammal is a human.38. The method of claim 36, wherein the cancer is pancreatic,colorectal, lung, endometrial, ovarian, or prostate cancer.
 39. A methodof detecting the presence of a cancer expressing a mutated epitopecomprising the amino acid sequence of VVVGADGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 2),VVVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 33) or VVGAVGVGK (SEQ ID NO: 35) in a mammal, themethod comprising contacting a sample comprising one or more cells fromthe mammal with the TCR of claim 24 or a nucleic acid comprising anucleotide sequence encoding the TCR of claim 24, thereby forming acomplex, and detecting the complex, wherein detection of the complex isindicative of the presence of the cancer in the mammal.
 40. The methodof claim 39, wherein the mammal is a human.
 41. The method of claim 39,wherein the cancer is pancreatic, colorectal, lung, endometrial,ovarian, or prostate cancer.